Kochi: There is good news for hundreds of commuters who find travelling to Bengaluru a costly affair this Christmas season, as the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced over 70 Christmas Specials to various destinations in the state from the Garden City. The initiative comes even as the private luxury buses are charging nearly Rs 3000 and the railways operating 'Premium trains' much to the disappointment of middle class families visiting home on Christmas vacation. "We've announced 73 special services to be operated on December 21, 22, 23 and 24 from Bengaluru to destinations like Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur, Payyanur, Thalassery and Sultan Bathery. More buses will be deployed based on demand," a senior KSRTC official said.
The Super Deluxe bus to Kottayam will depart at 6.05 pm, that to Ernakulam 6.15 pm, Kottayam 6.30 pm, Thrissur 7.15pm, 7.25 pm and 7.30 pm. The maximum special services are being operated to Kannur (six). Meanwhile, the commuters complained that most of the services are being operated through the longer Kutta, Manathavadi route instead of the direct Salem route. Only a single service - the Super Deluxe Special to Thrissur starting from Bengaluru at 7.30 pm, will ply by the Salem route. "The buses to Bengaluru will initially ply through the longer Manathavady- Kutta route but will start operating via Salem in future once the interstate reciprocal transport agreement with Tamil Nadu is signed, a process expected to be completed in a month's time," the official said.
