Bengaluru: The festive season has brought little cheer to passengers travelling out of Bengaluru for Diwali, with private bus operators sharply increasing ticket prices on several routes. Fares on some services have climbed to two or three times their usual levels, leaving families facing a heavier travel bill during the holiday season.
The increase comes amid a rush of passengers leaving the city to celebrate Diwali with their families. Heavy crowds were reported at Kempegowda Bus Station in Majestic on Friday as people headed to destinations across Karnataka and neighbouring states.
To manage the additional demand, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has arranged 2,600 additional buses from Bengaluru between November 6 and 8. Return services to Bengaluru are also planned for November 10 and 11.
KSRTC operates 2,600 additional buses
The additional services are intended to accommodate passengers travelling during the Diwali holiday period and the accompanying weekend rush.
The buses will operate from three major boarding points: Kempegowda Bus Station, the Mysuru Road Bus Station and the BMTC bus station at Shantinagar. Additional reserved services will also depart from locations including Vijayanagar, Yeshwantpur and Jayanagar TTMCs, Malleswaram, Basaveshwaranagar, Electronic City and Attibele.
The services will connect Bengaluru with destinations across Karnataka, including Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura, Shivamogga, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Karwar and Mysuru. Special buses will also operate to cities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Passengers booking four or more seats together can avail themselves of a 5% discount, while those booking onward and return tickets together are eligible for a 10% discount on the return journey.
Private bus fares rise sharply on major routes
Despite the additional government bus services, passengers relying on private operators are facing steep fare increases.
On the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route, tickets that usually cost between ₹496 and ₹1,157 are reportedly being sold for ₹1,785 to ₹4,999.
The Bengaluru–Hubballi route has also witnessed a significant increase, with fares rising from the usual ₹660–₹1,700 range to ₹1,989–₹8,000. Passengers travelling to Dharwad are being charged between ₹1,400 and ₹7,000, compared with the regular range of ₹389–₹1,300.
The Bengaluru–Karwar route has seen fares touch ₹6,999, against a usual maximum of around ₹900.
Other destinations have also become more expensive. Tickets to Chikkamagaluru are reportedly priced between ₹1,000 and ₹1,836, while fares to Kalaburagi range from ₹1,699 to ₹4,000. Travel to Shivamogga costs between ₹1,199 and ₹2,297, while tickets to Dharmasthala are being sold for ₹1,199 to ₹1,800.
Even passengers travelling to Mysuru are facing higher costs, with fares ranging from ₹450 to ₹2,200, compared with the usual ₹350–₹1,000 range.
These figures reflect the fares cited in the supplied report and may vary depending on the operator, bus type, travel date and seat availability.
Private operators cite festive demand
Private bus operators have indicated that festive-season and long-weekend demand can lead to temporary fare increases. A report published on November 5 quoted the private transport association’s president, Nataraj Sharma, as saying that fares could rise by up to 40% during the November 6–15 festive period.
He reportedly cited rising diesel prices and operating costs, while maintaining that the increase was limited to the festive period rather than a permanent revision.
However, the steep prices being reported on certain routes have raised concerns among passengers, who say families have limited alternatives when government services are fully booked or do not match their preferred travel timings.
Recent government bus fare hike adds to the burden
The situation has been further complicated by the recent increase in fares across Karnataka’s state-run transport corporations.
The revised fares came into effect from the night of November 4. KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC fares increased by an average of 23%, while BMTC fares in Bengaluru rose by approximately 33% to 35%.
The state government attributed the revision to rising diesel prices, employee salaries, spare parts and maintenance costs.
As a result, passengers are facing higher travel expenses whether they choose government or private buses. For people travelling with children and other family members, the combined increase can make festive journeys particularly expensive.
Passengers seek checks on excessive fares
Passengers have expressed concern over private bus operators charging substantially higher prices during a period when travel demand is predictable and thousands of people are trying to return to their hometowns.
Many have called for stronger monitoring of ticket prices and effective measures to prevent excessive charges during festivals and consecutive holidays.
While KSRTC’s additional services are expected to improve seat availability, passengers want authorities to ensure that private operators follow applicable fare regulations and that affordable travel options remain accessible.
For many families, travelling home for Diwali has become a costly exercise. The additional buses may help reduce the shortage of seats, but passengers say reasonable fares and effective oversight are equally important to make festive travel manageable.