The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate 2,600 special buses to manage the expected rise in travel during the Deepavali festival and the adjoining weekend, according to a report by Prajavani. The services will connect Bengaluru with destinations across Karnataka and will run in both directions over five days.
Special buses will operate from Bengaluru to various destinations from November 6 to 8. Return services from different locations to Bengaluru are scheduled for November 10 and 11, the report said. The arrangement is intended to accommodate passengers travelling home for the festival or planning intercity trips during the extended holiday period.
The services will depart from the Kempegowda Bus Station, the Mysuru Road Bus Station and the BMTC bus station at Shanthinagar. Passengers have been asked to check the bus station and pickup-point details printed on their reserved tickets before travelling to the terminal.
The destinations listed for the special services include Dharmasthala, Kukke Subrahmanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Sringeri, Horanadu, Davanagere, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppal, Yadgir, Bidar, Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalnagar and Madikeri.
The corporation has made advance seat-reservation facilities available for the additional buses. Passengers can book e-tickets through the KSRTC website at www.ksrtc.karnataka.gov.in. KSRTC said groups of four or more passengers booking in advance will receive a 5% discount. Passengers booking onward and return tickets together will receive a 10% discount on the return fare.
The special-service plan comes as the Deepavali travel period coincides with a weekend, increasing the likelihood of higher passenger movement from Bengaluru to towns and cities across the state. KSRTC Chief Traffic Manager said the fare concessions and advance booking options had been provided to facilitate passenger travel. The corporation has advised passengers to verify their boarding details before reaching the bus station.
