Uber now lets users book bus tickets in India through AbhiBus partnership

American ride-hailing giant Uber has partnered with AbhiBus, the bus-ticketing arm of Indian travel platform ixigo, to enable intercity bus ticket bookings directly within the Uber app.

Users can access the feature through the Home or Services section of the Uber app by selecting the “Intercity” option. They can enter origin, destination and travel date, browse available bus services, select preferred seats and complete payments within the app without being redirected to an external platform.

The integration is powered by AbhiBus’s booking technology and operator network. It aggregates ticket inventory from more than 6,200 bus operators covering over 6 lakh routes across India.

The booking interface allows users to discover and compare bus options, check real-time seat availability, filter by bus types such as AC, Sleeper, Seater, Volvo and Scania, and view 360-degree bus photos on select routes. Additional features include live bus tracking, 24x7 customer support and the “Abhi Assured” option, which offers defined compensation benefits in case of service disruptions.

Praveen Neppalli Naga, Chief Technology Officer at Uber, said the integration aligns with the company’s broader mobility vision.

“Our mission is to make movement seamless for everyone,” he said, adding that bringing AbhiBus’s inventory to the Uber platform would “unlock a new dimension of mobility for millions of Indians.”

The launch also comes as Uber looks to strengthen its position in India’s competitive ride-hailing sector. The company recently infused nearly Rs 3,000 crore into its Indian unit, Uber India Systems, to strengthen its cash reserves.

Despite the capital infusion, the company’s financial performance has faced pressure. In FY25, Uber India’s net loss surged 17 times to Rs 1,511 crore from Rs 89 crore in the previous fiscal, while its gross revenue, including ride commissions, remained largely flat at Rs 2,604 crore.

AbhiBus is owned by ixigo, listed on Indian exchanges as Le Travenues Technology Limited. The company operates multiple travel platforms including ixigo, ConfirmTkt and AbhiBus, offering AI-powered bookings for trains, flights, buses and hotels. In the financial year ending March 2025, ixigo reported more than 540 million annual active users.

Ixigo acquired AbhiBus in 2021 through a cash and stock deal.