We’re all aware that BMTC buses travel within the boundaries of Bengaluru, but don’t be amazed if you come across a BMTC bus in distant Shivamogga or Chitradurga. Baffled? Here’s some good news for all those people who are planning on going to their hometowns this Dasara season. To make travelling more convenient for you, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has made a special request to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to operate 500 buses beyond Bengaluru’s boundaries. Yes, you read it right.

Typically, BMTC buses serve within a 25km radius of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike area. A BMTC official said that in the midst of Dasara season, many individuals travel to their hometowns for Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami celebrations. Therefore, given the heightened demand, KSRTC has sought our assistance to run buses from October 21 to 24. They’ve requested the operation of 500 buses in response to the demand, during the weekend.

Over 100,000 Passengers in Two Days

The festival period extending into the weekend has seen a significant surge in the number of passengers booking tickets on the KSRTC portal over the last two days. On Friday, more than 46,000 people purchased tickets online and travelled on buses, with the number increasing to 56,000 on Saturday. The majority of the booked tickets were for journeys originating in Bengaluru.

Some passengers even expressed frustration at not being able to book online tickets due to “sold out” status on certain busy routes. A KSRTC official explained that they can not allocate all buses for online reservations. Hundreds of passengers arrive at bus stations without online tickets and they must cater to their needs as well. Buses are operated depending on the demand, and if necessary, they’ll request BMTC to provide services on these routes.

Higher Costs for Private Operators

As is often the case during festive seasons, travel on buses operated by certain private operators can be expensive. Some operators have been charging Rs 3,000 for a ticket from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, around Rs 2,000 to Mangaluru, between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 to Belagavi, and between Rs 1,700 and Rs 1,900 to Hubballi. The cost of travelling to Vijayapura has exceeded Rs 2,500 per person.

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