The Volvo AC semi-sleeper bus, gifted to Alappuzha as an Onam present, arrived in the district and went into service on Sunday. The inaugural trip was fully booked after tickets opened for reservations.
Taking Bengaluru trip to the next level!
Keralam’s own KSRTC now offers a Business Class service from Alappuzha to Bengaluru on alternate days, featuring premium comforts including a pantry and onboard toilet. Watch the video for a glimpse of the experience!#CMOKeralam #KSRTC pic.twitter.com/wFr2auCKG4— Chief Minister, Keralam (@CMOkeralam) August 17, 2026
The bus will leave Alappuzha at 5.30 pm and reach Bengaluru the following morning. The service will operate on alternate days.
Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal flagged off the inaugural journey and travelled briefly from Alappuzha to Kalavoor. Describing the experience, he said the journey felt similar to travelling by an aeroplane.
The launch comes after a long-standing demand for an interstate KSRTC service from Alappuzha. According to KSRTC Managing Director PS Pramoj Shankar, the service was introduced after KC Venugopal requested Transport Minister CP John to restore the previously suspended Alappuzha-Bengaluru route.
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What the premium bus offers
The Executive Class bus has 36 semi-sleeper seats and air suspension. The seats are designed to provide more space and comfort during the overnight journey. The bus comes with several facilities aimed at giving passengers an experience similar to air travel.
These include fully recliner seats, spacious legroom, on-board toilet, cafeteria and pantry, regular food and beverage service, personal entertainment screens, movies, music and news. In addition to this, it offers headsets, charging ports for mobile phones, laptops and tablets, large luggage racks, individual water bottle holders and modern interiors.
Passengers can also use a call button above their seats to contact the hostess when they need assistance. Coffee, light snacks and other beverages will be available during the journey.
The onboard toilet will be cleaned and maintained regularly. Passengers have also been asked to help keep the bus clean and dispose of waste only in the bins provided.Alappuzha-Bengaluru route and timings
The bus will leave Alappuzha at 5.30 pm and is scheduled to reach:
Vyttila: 7.25 pm
Thrissur Mannuthy Bypass: 9.15 pm
Palakkad Chandranagar: 11.05 pm
Coimbatore L&T Bypass: 12.10 am
Salem: 3.00 am
Bengaluru: 6.25 am
For the return journey, the bus will leave Bengaluru at 8 pm and reach Alappuzha at around 8 am the next day. It will pass through 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.
90 KSRTC special services for Onam
Meanwhile, passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Kerala will have more options during the Onam holidays. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate 90 special services from August 21 to 25.
These buses will connect Bengaluru with destinations including Kozhikode, Kannur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. Return services to Bengaluru will operate on August 30.
The additional services will include premium Rajahamsa, Airavat, Ambari and Pallakki buses, along with other air-conditioned services. Passengers can book tickets in advance. KSRTC is also offering a 5% discount for bookings of four or more tickets, along with discounts on return-ticket bookings.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Aug 18, 2026 12:37 PM IST
