Kerala transport corporation adds festival-season interstate buses

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has announced special interstate bus services for the festival travel period from October 14 to November 14. The additional services are intended to accommodate passengers travelling during the Mahanavami, Vijayadashami and Diwali celebrations. KSRTC said online reservations had already opened, allowing passengers to book tickets in advance.

Special buses will run from Bengaluru to destinations across Kerala, including Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Nilambur, Ponnani, Ernakulam, Changanassery, Pala, Alappuzha, Kollam, Punalur, Kottarakkara, Cherthala, Haripad, Kottayam, Adoor, Kannur, Payyannur, Kanhangad and Thiruvananthapuram. Additional connections will operate from Mysuru to Kannur and from Madurai. Chennai services will connect with Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, with the Ernakulam route using multi-axle air-conditioned buses.

KSRTC has also arranged services from depots in Kerala to Bengaluru, Mysuru and Chennai. Buses to Bengaluru will operate from numerous depots, including those in Kozhikode, Nilambur, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Changanassery, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam, Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram. Services to Mysuru will be available from Pala and Kannur, while buses to Chennai will operate from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.

The Ernakulam-Chennai service will also use multi-axle air-conditioned buses. Some services will operate on alternate days, according to the transport corporation. KSRTC said it would monitor passenger demand and deploy more buses if necessary in the coming days.

The announcement provides additional options for interstate travellers during a period when demand is expected to increase. The source material does not specify the number of extra buses, fares or individual departure times.