As the 2025 Union Budget approaches, Manish Rathi, Co-founder and CEO of IntrCity SmartBus, has shared his vision for transforming India’s intercity mobility landscape. Highlighting the critical role of the private bus sector in long-distance travel for a rapidly urbanizing nation, Rathi emphasized the need for bold government initiatives to complement the strides made in highway infrastructure.
“We strongly believe that developing airport-style centralized bus terminals along national highways is crucial,” Rathi stated. “Facilities with secure boarding zones, clean restrooms, and vibrant food courts are essential for passengers and would encourage more Indians to opt for shared mobility over private vehicles.”
Rathi also outlined the potential of integrating commercial cargo with passenger transport to create new revenue streams and support sustainability goals. With modern buses already equipped with sophisticated storage systems, he pointed to successful global models of dual-use transport as inspiration.
Calling for strategic investments in sustainable transport, Rathi described the 2025 Union Budget as a golden opportunity to position India as a global leader in intercity mobility. “By making these investments now, we can build a smarter, greener mobility ecosystem. The private bus sector is ready to partner with the government to create world-class intercity transport solutions,” he added.
