Creating a Bus Booking System involves several components, including a MySQL database schema, file structure, layout design using Bootstrap 5, and complete PHP scripts for user authentication and management. Below is a comprehensive guide to help you set up your system.

Project Introduction

The Bus Booking System is a web application designed to facilitate the booking and management of bus travel. It provides a platform for passengers to search for routes, book tickets, and manage their travel plans efficiently. The system also allows bus operators to manage their buses and routes, while administrators can oversee the entire operation. With a user-friendly interface and robust backend, this system aims to enhance the travel experience for users and streamline bus operations.

Project Objectives

  • To develop a secure and efficient platform for users to book bus tickets online.
  • To implement a comprehensive database schema that supports user management, bus operations, and booking processes.
  • To provide real-time notifications and updates regarding bookings, cancellations, and payments.
  • To enable bus operators to manage their fleet and routes effectively.
  • To ensure a seamless payment process with multiple payment options.
  • To create a responsive design that enhances user experience across various devices.

Project Modules

  1. User Management: Handles user registration, authentication, and role assignments (admin, passenger, bus operator).
  2. Bus Management: Allows bus operators to add, edit, and manage bus details, including type and amenities.
  3. Route Management: Manages bus routes, including departure and arrival locations, travel time, and stops.
  4. Booking Management: Facilitates the booking process, including seat selection, booking status, and history.
  5. Payment Processing: Handles payment transactions for bookings, including payment status and methods.
  6. Cancellation Management: Manages booking cancellations, including reasons and dates.
  7. Passenger Management: Stores passenger information and travel history for better service.
  8. Notification System: Sends alerts and messages to users regarding bookings, cancellations, and other important updates.

1. MySQL Database Schema


CREATE DATABASE bus_booking_system;
USE bus_booking_system;
-- Table for users
CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    username VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL UNIQUE,
    password VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    email VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL UNIQUE,
    role ENUM('admin', 'passenger', 'bus_operator') DEFAULT 'passenger',
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);
-- Table for buses
CREATE TABLE buses (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    operator_id INT NOT NULL,
    bus_type ENUM('sleeper', 'semi-sleeper', 'luxury') NOT NULL,
    seating_capacity INT NOT NULL,
    amenities TEXT,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    updated_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (operator_id) REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- Table for routes
CREATE TABLE routes (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    bus_id INT NOT NULL,
    departure_location VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    arrival_location VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    travel_time INT NOT NULL, -- in minutes
    stops TEXT,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (bus_id) REFERENCES buses(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- Table for bookings
CREATE TABLE bookings (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    user_id INT NOT NULL,
    bus_id INT NOT NULL,
    route_id INT NOT NULL,
    seat_number VARCHAR(10) NOT NULL,
    booking_date DATETIME NOT NULL,
    status ENUM('confirmed', 'canceled') DEFAULT 'confirmed',
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
    FOREIGN KEY (bus_id) REFERENCES buses(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
    FOREIGN KEY (route_id) REFERENCES routes(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- Table for payments
CREATE TABLE payments (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    booking_id INT NOT NULL,
    amount DECIMAL(10, 2) NOT NULL,
    payment_date DATETIME NOT NULL,
    payment_method ENUM('credit_card', 'paypal', 'digital_wallet') NOT NULL,
    status ENUM('completed', 'pending', 'failed') DEFAULT 'pending',
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (booking_id) REFERENCES bookings(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- Table for cancellations
CREATE TABLE cancellations (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    booking_id INT NOT NULL,
    cancellation_date DATETIME NOT NULL,
    reason TEXT,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (booking_id) REFERENCES bookings(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- Table for passengers
CREATE TABLE passengers (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    user_id INT NOT NULL,
    contact_number VARCHAR(15),
    travel_history TEXT,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- Table for notifications
CREATE TABLE notifications (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    user_id INT NOT NULL,
    message TEXT NOT NULL,
    is_read BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
    FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);

2. File and Folder Structure


bus_booking_system/
│
├── config/
│   └── db.php
│
├── public/
│   ├── index.php
│   ├── login.php
│   ├── register.php
│   ├── dashboard.php
│   ├── create_bus.php
│   ├── edit_bus.php
│   ├── view_bus.php
│   ├── routes.php
│   ├── bookings.php
│   ├── payments.php
│   ├── cancellations.php
│   ├── passengers.php
│   ├── notifications.php
│   └── admin_dashboard.php
│
├── includes/
│   ├── header.php
│   ├── footer.php
│   └── functions.php
│
├── assets/
│   ├── css/
│   │   └── styles.css
│   ├── js/
│   │   └── scripts.js
│   └── images/
│
└── vendor/
    └── (Bootstrap and other libraries)

3. Layout Based Design with Bootstrap 5

Header (includes/header.php)


<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.1.3/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="assets/css/styles.css">
    <title>Bus Booking System</title>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="container">
        <header class="my-4">
            <h1>Bus Booking System</h1>
        </header>
        <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light bg-light">
            <div class="container-fluid">
                <a class="navbar-brand" href="index.php">Home</a>
                <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navbarNav" aria-controls="navbarNav" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation">
                    <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
                </button>
                <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarNav">
                    <ul class="navbar-nav">
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="create_bus.php">Create Bus</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="routes.php">Manage Routes</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="bookings.php">My Bookings</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="payments.php">Payments</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="cancellations.php">Cancellations</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="passengers.php">Manage Passengers</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="notifications.php">Notifications</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="login.php">Login</a>
                        </li>
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <a class="nav-link" href="register.php">Register</a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>
        </nav>
        <main class="my-4">

Footer (includes/footer.php)


        </main>
        <footer class="text-center my-4">
            <p>© 2023 Bus Booking System. All rights reserved.</p>
        </footer>
    </div>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.1.3/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

4. PHP Code for User Authentication

Registration (public/register.php)


<?php
require '../config/db.php';
require '../includes/header.php';
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
    $username = $_POST['username'];
    $email = $_POST['email'];
    $password = password_hash($_POST['password'], PASSWORD_DEFAULT);
    $role = $_POST['role'];
    $stmt = $conn->prepare("INSERT INTO users (username, email, password, role) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)");
    $stmt->bind_param("ssss", $username, $email, $password, $role);
    $stmt->execute();
    $stmt->close();
    header("Location: login.php");
}
?>
<form method="POST" action="">
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="username" class="form-label">Username</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="username" name="username" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="email" class="form-label">Email</label>
        <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" name="email" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="password" class="form-label">Password</label>
        <input type="password" class="form-control" id="password" name="password" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="role" class="form-label">Role</label>
        <select class="form-select" id="role" name="role">
            <option value="passenger">Passenger</option>
            <option value="bus_operator">Bus Operator</option>
            <option value="admin">Admin</option>
        </select>
    </div>
    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Register</button>
</form>
<?php require '../includes/footer.php'; ?>

Login (public/login.php)


<?php
session_start();
require '../config/db.php';
require '../includes/header.php';
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
    $username = $_POST['username'];
    $password = $_POST['password'];
    $stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?");
    $stmt->bind_param("s", $username);
    $stmt->execute();
    $result = $stmt->get_result();
    $user = $result->fetch_assoc();
    if ($user && password_verify($password, $user['password'])) {
        $_SESSION['user_id'] = $user['id'];
        $_SESSION['role'] = $user['role'];
        header("Location: dashboard.php");
    } else {
        echo "Invalid credentials.";
    }
}
?>
<form method="POST" action="">
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="username" class="form-label">Username</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="username" name="username" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="password" class="form-label">Password</label>
        <input type="password" class="form-control" id="password" name="password" required>
    </div>
    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Login</button>
</form>
<?php require '../includes/footer.php'; ?>

5. Additional PHP Scripts

Dashboard (public/dashboard.php)


<?php
session_start();
require '../config/db.php';
require '../includes/header.php';
if (!isset($_SESSION['user_id'])) {
    header("Location: login.php");
    exit();
}
$user_id = $_SESSION['user_id'];
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("i", $user_id);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->get_result();
$user = $result->fetch_assoc();
?>
<h2>Welcome, <?php echo $user['username']; ?></h2>
<p>Your role: <?php echo ucfirst($user['role']); ?></p>
<?php require '../includes/footer.php'; ?>

Bus Management (public/bus_management.php)


<?php
session_start();
require '../config/db.php';
require '../includes/header.php';
if (!isset($_SESSION['user_id']) || $_SESSION['role'] !== 'bus_operator') {
    header("Location: login.php");
    exit();
}
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
    $bus_type = $_POST['bus_type'];
    $seating_capacity = $_POST['seating_capacity'];
    $amenities = $_POST['amenities'];
    $stmt = $conn->prepare("INSERT INTO buses (operator_id, bus_type, seating_capacity, amenities) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)");
    $stmt->bind_param("ssis", $_SESSION['user_id'], $bus_type, $seating_capacity, $amenities);
    $stmt->execute();
    $stmt->close();
    header("Location: bus_management.php");
}
?>
<h2>Manage Buses</h2>
<form method="POST" action="">
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="bus_type" class="form-label">Bus Type</label>
        <select class="form-select" id="bus_type" name="bus_type" required>
            <option value="sleeper">Sleeper</option>
            <option value="semi-sleeper">Semi-Sleeper</option>
            <option value="luxury">Luxury</option>
        </select>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="seating_capacity" class="form-label">Seating Capacity</label>
        <input type="number" class="form-control" id="seating_capacity" name="seating_capacity" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="amenities" class="form-label">Amenities</label>
        <textarea class="form-control" id="amenities" name="amenities"></textarea>
    </div>
    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Add Bus</button>
</form>
<?php require '../includes/footer.php'; ?>

Route Management (public/route_management.php)


<?php
session_start();
require '../config/db.php';
require '../includes/header.php';
if (!isset($_SESSION['user_id']) || $_SESSION['role'] !== 'bus_operator') {
    header("Location: login.php");
    exit();
}
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
    $bus_id = $_POST['bus_id'];
    $departure_location = $_POST['departure_location'];
    $arrival_location = $_POST['arrival_location'];
    $travel_time = $_POST['travel_time'];
    $stmt = $conn->prepare("INSERT INTO routes (bus_id, departure_location, arrival_location, travel_time) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)");
    $stmt->bind_param("isss", $bus_id, $departure_location, $arrival_location, $travel_time);
    $stmt->execute();
    $stmt->close();
    header("Location: route_management.php");
}
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM buses WHERE operator_id = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("i", $_SESSION['user_id']);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->get_result();
$buses = $result->fetch_all(MYSQLI_ASSOC);
?>
<h2>Manage Routes</h2>
<form method="POST" action="">
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="bus_id" class="form-label">Select Bus</label>
        <select class="form-select" id="bus_id" name="bus_id" required>
            <?php foreach ($buses as $bus): ?>
            <option value="<?php echo $bus['id']; ?>"><?php echo $bus['bus_type']; ?></option>
            <?php endforeach; ?>
        </select>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="departure_location" class="form-label">Departure Location</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="departure_location" name="departure_location" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="arrival_location" class="form-label">Arrival Location</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="arrival_location" name="arrival_location" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="travel_time" class="form-label">Travel Time (in hours)</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="travel_time" name="travel_time" required>
    </div>
    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Add Route</button>
</form>
<?php require '../includes/footer.php'; ?>

Search and Filtering (public/search.php)


<?php
session_start();
require '../config/db.php';
require '../includes/header.php';
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
    $departure_location = $_POST['departure_location'];
    $arrival_location = $_POST['arrival_location'];
    $date = $_POST['date'];
    $stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM routes WHERE departure_location = ? AND arrival_location = ?");
    $stmt->bind_param("ss", $departure_location, $arrival_location);
    $stmt->execute();
    $result = $stmt->get_result();
    $routes = $result->fetch_all(MYSQLI_ASSOC);
}
?>
<h2>Search for Buses</h2>
<form method="POST" action="">
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="departure_location" class="form-label">Departure Location</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="departure_location" name="departure_location" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="arrival_location" class="form-label">Arrival Location</label>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" id="arrival_location" name="arrival_location" required>
    </div>
    <div class="mb-3">
        <label for="date" class="form-label">Date</label>
        <input type="date" class="form-control" id="date" name="date" required>
    </div>
    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Search</button>
</form>
<?php if (isset($routes)): ?>
<h3>Available Routes</h3>
<table class="table">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th>Bus ID</th>
            <th>Departure Location</th>
            <th>Arrival Location</th>
            <th>Travel Time</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <?php foreach ($routes as $route): ?>
        <tr>
            <td><?php echo $route['bus_id']; ?></td>
            <td><?php echo $route['departure_location']; ?></td>
            <td><?php echo $route['arrival_location']; ?></td>
            <td><?php echo $route['travel_time']; ?></td>
        </tr>
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    </tbody>
</table>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php require '../includes/footer.php'; ?>

6. Additional Features to Consider

User Profiles: Allow users to edit their profiles and manage their settings.

Booking History: Implement a feature for users to view their booking history.

Notifications: Create a notification system to alert users about upcoming trips and changes.

7. Security Measures

Data Validation: Ensure all user inputs are validated to prevent SQL injection and XSS attacks.

Password Security: Use strong hashing algorithms for storing passwords.

Session Security: Implement secure session management practices to protect user sessions.

8. Testing and Deployment

Unit Testing: Conduct unit tests for individual components to ensure they function correctly.

Integration Testing: Test the integration of different modules to ensure they work together seamlessly.

Deployment: Choose a reliable hosting provider and deploy the application, ensuring all configurations are optimized for performance.

9. Documentation

User Documentation: Create a user manual to guide users through the platform's features and functionalities.

Developer Documentation: Document the codebase and architecture for future reference and maintenance.

10. Future Enhancements

Mobile Application: Develop a mobile application for users to access the platform on the go.

AI-Powered Recommendations: Implement machine learning algorithms to provide personalized recommendations for users based on their preferences.

Integration with Other Systems: Consider integrating with existing travel or booking systems for a more comprehensive solution.

This structured approach will help you build a robust Bus Booking System that meets user needs and adapts to future requirements.