KSRTC Mangaluru Division Launches New Fleet of Premium Buses to Bengaluru

KSRTC Mangaluru Division Launches New Fleet of Premium Buses to Bengaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 27, 2025: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Mangaluru Division, has expanded its premium service offerings with the addition of new Volvo Multi-Axle Seater 2.0 and Ambari Utsav buses on the Mangaluru–Bengaluru route. The new fleet was officially launched on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Shetty, Senior Divisional Controller, KSRTC Mangaluru, said the division has received two Volvo Multi-Axle Seater 2.0 and three Ambari Utsav buses under a recent government sanction. These services will operate via Puttur–Mysuru and Hassan routes.

In a first for the division, an air-conditioned sleeper bus for daytime travel has been introduced. It will depart from Mangaluru at 1 pm and reach Bengaluru by 8 pm. Additionally, an AC sleeper service has been launched on the Puttur–Sullia–Mysuru route.

Shetty highlighted the scale of the division’s operations, stating that since its establishment in 1982, the Mangaluru division runs 550 scheduled services daily with 595 vehicles, covering nearly 2.17 lakh kilometres and serving around 1.2 lakh passengers each day.

Launching the new services, MLC Ivan D’Souza said the addition of luxury buses underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening public transport in coastal Karnataka. He credited welfare schemes such as Shakti, which provides free bus travel for women, for improving access and contributing to Karnataka’s rise in per capita income rankings.

D’Souza praised the proactive efforts of Mangaluru division officials in securing government approvals and revealed that plans are in progress to introduce electric buses in the region. “There is great potential for expanding KSRTC’s operations here, including commercial ventures. While bus terminals in several cities have seen modernisation, Mangaluru still lags behind. I will raise this issue in the next legislative session to push for high-tech upgrades to the city’s bus station,” he said.

Dakshina Kannada District Guarantee Scheme Implementation Authority president Bharath Mundodi and other officials were also present at the launch.