IRC 80:2018 is the Indian Standard (IRC) for type designs for pick up bus stops on national highways. IRC: SP: 100 (2014) offers comprehensive type designs for pick-up bus stops on National Highways, addressing critical aspects like location, geometry, passenger facilities, and safety features. It standardizes the layout and dimensions of bus bays, shelters, pedestrian pathways, and waiting areas to ensure efficient passenger movement and minimal disruption to highway traffic. The code emphasizes the need for adequate visibility, accessibility, and protection from elements for commuters. It also details considerations for lighting, drainage, and integration with the surrounding highway environment, promoting a safe and comfortable experience for bus users.
This code provides standardized type designs for pick-up bus stops intended for use on National Highways in India. It aims to ensure uniformity, safety, and functionality for passengers and traffic at these designated stopping points. The code covers various components and configurations of bus stops suitable for different highway scenarios.
Key reference values — verify against the current code edition / project specification.
| Reference | Value | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Standard type designs — bus stops on National Highways | Scope |
| Bus bay geometry | Deceleration taper + bay length + acceleration taper | Geometry |
| Location | Off-carriageway lay-by clear of through traffic | Safety |
| Shelter & access | Passenger shelter + safe pedestrian access | Element |
| Spacing/siting | Away from junctions/curves; sight distance kept | Siting |
| Supersedes | IRC 80:1981 | Status |
IRC 80 (2018) provides Type Designs for Pick Up Bus Stops on National Highways — the IRC's standard for roadside bus stops on NH/SH/expressway corridors. With NHAI's emphasis on accessibility + safety + multi-modal integration, standardised bus stop design has become important on major corridors.
Use IRC 80 when you are: - Specifying roadside bus stops on NH/SH (rural + semi-urban context) - Doing NH 4-laning DPR with bus stop integration - Specifying passenger waiting facility + boarding - Designing rural bus stop on expressway feeder - Coordinating bus stops + service road / pedestrian facilities
What IRC 80 covers: - Bus stop location selection - Layby / pull-out bay design (geometry) - Shelter + passenger facility - Pedestrian access - Signage + markings - Lighting + amenities - Accessibility (per IRC:103:2012) - Coordination with carriageway design
Bus stop types: 1. Roadside (carriageway-edge): simplest; on shoulder of NH/SH 2. Layby / pull-out bay: dedicated bay off carriageway 3. Sheltered bus stop: covered waiting area + seating 4. Bus station / interchange: larger; not covered by IRC 80
Design philosophy: - Bus pulls off carriageway (doesn't block traffic) - Passenger access safe + accessible - Visible to drivers (signs + markings) - Lit for evening / night use - Accommodates disabled / elderly passengers
Layby / pull-out bay dimensions: - Length: 30-50 m (depending on bus length + boarding time) - Width: 3.5-4.5 m (single bus); 6-9 m (multiple bus capacity) - Approach taper: 1:5 to 1:8 (gentler for higher speeds) - Departure taper: 1:3 to 1:5 - Total bay length (with tapers): typically 60-100 m
Sheltered waiting area: - Width: 2-3 m - Length: 4-8 m typical (depending on passenger volume) - Roof: waterproof + UV-resistant - Walls: open sides (or partial enclosure for weather) - Seating: 4-8 persons typical - Lighting: sheltered + perimeter
Pedestrian access: - Footpath: connecting from village / community to bus stop - Width: 1.5 m minimum - Surface: all-weather material - Continuous from approach to shelter
Pedestrian crossing (where applicable): - For accessing bus stop on opposite side - Signalized at high-volume locations - Zebra crossing at low-volume - Refuge island if median carriageway - Per IRC:35:2015
Signage + markings: - Advance signage 150-300 m before bus stop - 'Bus Stop Ahead' sign per IRC:67:2012 - Lane line + shoulder markings - 'Bus' painted on pavement - Lighting / illumination signs
Lighting: - Shelter area: 20-50 lux - Approach + departure: continuous lighting - Backup power for critical safety lighting
Accessibility (per IRC:103:2012): - Wheelchair access: ramp from footpath to shelter - Tactile paving at edges - Wide enough for wheelchair + companion - Audio + visual announcement at smart bus stops
Materials: - Pavement: matching adjacent carriageway - Shelter: GI / aluminium / RCC; durable - Seating: GI / concrete / wood - Lighting: LED preferred (low energy + long life)
Coordination with carriageway: - Sight distance: bus emerging into traffic must have adequate SSD - No obstructions to approaching traffic - Lighting integration with carriageway lighting - Drainage: integrate with carriageway drainage system
Bus stop frequency on NH: - Urban / semi-urban: every 1-3 km - Rural: every 5-10 km (at villages) - Expressway: at strategic locations only - Coordinated with local transit demand
Layby dimensions (typical): - Length: 40 m typical (single bus) - Width: 4 m typical - Taper: 1:5 each side (= 20 m taper) - Total footprint: 80 × 4 m = 320 m² typical
Shelter dimensions: - 3 × 6 m typical for ~8 passengers waiting - 5 × 10 m typical for ~20 passengers (high-volume location) - Roof: profiled metal sheet on steel frame - Side panels: 3 sides covered; entry / exit open
Approach / departure speeds: - Approaching bus speed: 30-50 km/h (slowing before stop) - Bus dwell time: 30-60 seconds at moderate-volume - Departure acceleration: 50-80 km/h within 100-200 m
Sight distance: - For driver emerging: SSD per main road design speed - For pedestrian crossing: adequate visibility in both directions - No vegetation / structures blocking sight lines
Drainage: - Cross-fall: 2 % outward from shelter - Edge drain: at bay edge - Connect to longitudinal drain
Construction tolerances: - Bay alignment: ± 50 mm of design - Width: ± 100 mm of design - Surface evenness: 5 mm under 3-m straight-edge - Bay level: ± 25 mm of design
Acceptance criteria: - Geometric per design - Shelter structural integrity - Drainage functional - Lighting at design lux - Pedestrian access compliant - Signage + markings installed - Visual quality acceptable
Maintenance: - Daily: cleaning of shelter + seating - Weekly: signage + markings + lighting check - Monthly: structural inspection - Annual: detailed condition assessment - Periodic: signage repainting + lighting replacement
Service life: - Bay pavement: matches carriageway (15-20 years) - Shelter structure: 25-40 years (with maintenance) - Signage: 5-10 years (re-paint / replace) - Lighting: 10-15 years
Costs (Indian context, 2023): - Basic layby + shelter: ₹3-5 lakh per location - Premium shelter (lit, seating, signage): ₹8-15 lakh - Smart bus stop (audio + visual, sensors): ₹20-50 lakh - Maintenance: ₹50,000-1,50,000 per year per location
1. Bus stop on carriageway shoulder. Bus blocks traffic during dwell; safety + capacity issue. Layby mandatory on NH. 2. Approach taper too sharp. Bus drivers don't see; merging hazard. 1:5 to 1:8 taper. 3. Sight distance inadequate. Bus emerges into traffic; rear-end risk. SSD per design speed. 4. No pedestrian access path. Bus stop without path from village; unsafe walking on shoulder. Footpath mandatory. 5. No pedestrian crossing. Passengers cross dangerously to opposite-side bus stop. Crossing or refuge island. 6. Shelter inadequate. Open to weather; passengers exposed. Sheltered + drained. 7. No lighting. Evening / night usage; safety + access. Lighting mandatory. 8. Not accessible. No ramp; wheelchair excluded. Per IRC:103:2012. 9. No advance signage. Driver doesn't see; missing bus. Signage 150-300 m before. 10. Drainage poor. Shelter floods; passenger inconvenience. Drainage per design. 11. Materials inadequate. Cheap shelter rusts / fails. Quality materials. 12. Maintenance absent. Bus stop degrades; usage drops. Maintenance contract. 13. No coordination with bus operator. Routes may not stop. Coordinate with state transport. 14. Inadequate frequency. Too few stops on long stretch; users walk far. Spacing per local demand. 15. Stop near accident black-spot. Buses + slowing traffic exacerbate. Avoid risk zones.
Bus stop project — IRC 80 touchpoints:
1. DPR / design: - Bus stop locations per traffic + community input - Layby geometry - Shelter + amenity specification - Pedestrian access design - Signage + markings + lighting - Drainage integration
2. Detailed drawings: - Plan + elevation of layby - Shelter details - Pedestrian access - Signage + markings layout
3. Tender + BOQ: - Civil works (layby + pavement) - Shelter (structure + roof + sides) - Lighting - Signage + markings - Drainage
4. Construction: - Coordinated with carriageway construction - Layby pavement + shelter foundation - Shelter structure + roof - Pedestrian access + footpath - Lighting + utility - Signage + markings
5. Pre-opening: - Road safety audit per IRC:SP-44:1996 - Drive-through verification - Accessibility audit - Coordination with bus operator
6. Operations + maintenance: - Daily cleaning + condition check - Periodic structural inspection - Lighting + signage refresh - Long-term service life 25-40 years
IRC 80 is the specialised bus-stop reference for NH/SH corridors — applied on every NHAI 4/6-laning project where rural + semi-urban bus service operates.
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Bay Length | |||
| Shelter Depth | |||
| Accessibility Ramp Slope |