11 July
News Flash
New Services to Cover 1,500 km Each with European-Style Sleeper Buses
Bengaluru: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is preparing to introduce its longest daily bus routes yet, connecting Bengaluru to Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Puri in Odisha. Spanning approximately 1,500 km each, these routes will be serviced by state-of-the-art European-style air-conditioned sleeper buses.
The decision to expand KSRTC's offerings follows robust demand and increasing competition from private operators. Currently, KSRTC's longest routes extend to Mumbai and Shirdi, each covering about 1,000 km. V Anbukumar, Managing Director of KSRTC, highlighted the corporation's extensive fleet of Volvo buses and its successful track record, noting, "We want to explore new routes to meet the growing demand for long-distance bus services."
Private operators currently run services from Bengaluru to destinations including Ahmedabad, Indore, Bhopal, Jaipur, Jaitaran, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. The longest route to Jaisalmer, spanning over 2,000 km, holds the record as India's lengthiest bus service. Notably, Bengaluru currently lacks a direct bus service to Puri, a prominent pilgrimage site on Odisha's coast.
To launch the new services, KSRTC is finalizing approvals from road transport corporations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, states along the proposed routes. Talks are nearing completion, with expectations of positive outcomes soon. KSRTC anticipates profitability similar to its existing flagship long-distance routes.
Each route will be serviced by two buses—one for the outbound journey and another for the return trip—under the Ambaari Utsav brand. These buses, priced around Rs 2,500 per fare, will offer travel times of approximately 27 to 28 hours and will not include onboard toilets.
KSRTC has initiated the procurement of 20 multi-axle AC sleeper buses under the Ambaari Utsav brand, with tenders currently under evaluation after receiving limited participation. Each bus, expected to cost Rs 1.8 crore, features enhanced technological advancements compared to previous models, addressing increased labor and material costs.
Additionally, KSRTC is introducing 16 new AC sleeper buses to cater to routes including Mangaluru, Kundapur, Murdeshwar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam, fulfilling specific regional demands. Furthermore, 20 AC seater buses will replace ageing vehicles on routes such as Tirupati, Ernakulam, Kundapur, and Mangaluru, with a prototype already received and plans to phase out 60 older Volvo buses by March 2025, aiming to enhance fleet efficiency and passenger comfort.