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Passengers travelling between Alappuzha and Bengaluru now have a more comfortable interstate bus option. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has introduced a premium Executive Class service on the route, offering several facilities designed to provide a travel experience similar to air travel.
Bengaluru-Alappuzha Onam Special Bus
The Volvo AC semi-sleeper bus was gifted to Alappuzha as an Onam present and started operations on Sunday. The inaugural service was fully booked soon after reservations opened. Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal flagged off the first journey and travelled from Alappuzha to Kalavoor. He said the comfortable interiors and facilities made the journey feel similar to travelling by plane.
The bus will operate on alternate days. It will depart from Alappuzha at 5:30 pm and reach Bengaluru at 6:25 am the next morning. The major stops include Vyttila at 7:25 pm, Thrissur Mannuthy Bypass at 9:15 pm, Palakkad Chandranagar at 11:05 pm, Coimbatore L&T Bypass at 12:10 am, and Salem at 3 am.
For the return journey, the bus will depart from Bengaluru at 8 pm and reach Alappuzha at around 8 am the next day. It will stop at Salem at 11:25 pm, Coimbatore L&T Bypass at 2:15 am, Palakkad Chandranagar at 3:20 am, Mannuthy Bypass at 4:55 am and Vyttila at 6:35 am.
Bengaluru-Alappuzha Onam Special Bus Features
The bus has 36 semi-sleeper seats with air suspension, spacious legroom and fully reclining seats. Other facilities include an onboard toilet, cafeteria and pantry, food and beverage service, personal entertainment screens, movies, music, news, headsets and charging ports.
Passengers also get large luggage racks, individual water bottle holders and a call button to contact the hostess. Coffee, snacks and beverages will be served during the journey.
The launch follows a long-standing demand for an interstate KSRTC service from Alappuzha. KSRTC Managing Director PS Pramoj Shankar said the service was introduced after KC Venugopal requested Transport Minister CP John to restore the previously suspended Alappuzha-Bengaluru route.
Additional Onam Special Buses
Meanwhile, KSRTC will operate 90 special services between Bengaluru and Kerala from August 21 to 25 for the Onam rush. These buses will connect Bengaluru with Kozhikode, Kannur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. Return services to Bengaluru will operate on August 30. Premium Rajahamsa, Airavat, Ambari and Pallakki buses, along with other AC services, will be deployed. Passengers can also get a 5% discount when booking four or more tickets and on return-ticket bookings.