Category: Travel & Tourism (HRTC)

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is running 266 special buses from Delhi, Chandigarh and Baddi to destinations across Himachal Pradesh on 6 and 7 November 2026, to help people travel home for Diwali. Diwali falls on 8 November this year.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who also holds the transport portfolio, announced the plan on 29 October 2026. The special buses are meant to handle the festive rush and reduce overcrowding on regular services.

Day-wise plan

DayTotal special busesFrom DelhiFrom ChandigarhFrom Baddi
6 November134426923
7 November132496320
Total2669113243

Chandigarh accounts for the largest number of departures across the two days, with 132 buses in total. Delhi will send 91 buses and Baddi 43.

The announcement did not specify the individual destinations, departure timings, fares or booking arrangements for each service. Passengers should check with their nearest HRTC depot or the HRTC booking counter for the exact departure time of their bus.

Services on Diwali day, 8 November

HRTC will run a reduced service on Diwali itself:

  • Within Himachal Pradesh, buses will operate until 4:00 PM on 8 November.
  • Local bus services will remain suspended from 5:00 PM on 8 November until 8:00 AM on 9 November, covering Diwali evening and the early hours of the following day.
  • Selected long-distance services will continue on the evening of 8 November, with one bus each from Delhi to Shimla, Dharamshala, Kullu, Mandi and Chamba.

Passengers travelling on Diwali should plan accordingly: finish local travel before 4:00 PM, and do not depend on a local bus on Diwali evening.

Tips for festive travel

  • Book early. The special buses are added to the regular schedule, but seats on popular routes like Delhi–Shimla and Chandigarh–Dharamshala fill up fast during Diwali.
  • Reach the depot early. Special buses run in addition to normal services, and departure bays can be crowded.
  • Carry your ticket and ID. Keep your booking confirmation handy.
  • Check the return plan. If you are returning after Diwali, remember that local services resume only at 8:00 AM on 9 November.

HRTC’s electric bus push

The special Diwali services come as HRTC is being modernised. In October 2026, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government will provide 1,500 new e-buses to the corporation in the coming period, with a minimum range of 350 kilometres and designs suited to hilly terrain. 297 e-buses have already been provided. The government is also considering 100 green hydrogen buses and 100 Super Deluxe buses, and Una district is to become a fully electric-bus district.

For now, the 266 special buses are the immediate help for the thousands of Himachalis returning home for Diwali.

Source: The News Himachal and India News Calling reports on the HRTC Diwali special bus announcement by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, 29 October 2026; Public Updates 24 report on the HRTC e-bus announcement, 7 October 2026.

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