Ticket fare below Rs 1000; Karnataka govt's Christmas gift to Bengaluru malayalees

BENGALURU: These days, it drains one's pocket to travel from Kerala to the IT hub of Bengaluru. The Karnataka capital is home to a sizeable Malayali community, and thus the unavailability of a modest transportation facility connecting the two states was imminent. Even on normal days, the ticket price can break the roof, so it is no surprise that the prices can increase tenfold during festive seasons.

Karnataka RTC has now announced a new service to Kerala to ease the problems. Non-AC sleeper bus services are currently announced for Kozhikode and Kottayam. The bus services were announced targeting the common people in view of the Christmas holidays. The new bus service will leave Bengaluru at night and reach Kerala the next day. The service to Kozhikode has been announced in the first phase. The Kottayam service will soon follow suit.

The Pallakki bus, which is 11.3 metres long, is equipped with features such as mobile and laptop charging ports and will run services connecting Kerala. Bengaluru to Kozhikode ticket fare is Rs 950. However, on weekdays, the rate can increase.

The bus will depart from Bengaluru's Shantinagar Bus Stand at 8:45 PM daily and reach Kozhikode Bus Stand at 5:45 am the next day.

In Kerala, the bus will also have stops at Mananthavadi and Kalpetta. The bus will then leave Kozhikode at 9:15 PM and reach Bengaluru at 5:25 am the next day.