Mysuru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is preparing to operate 700 additional buses during Mysuru Dasara 2026 to manage the expected surge in visitors and passengers travelling to the city. The corporation expects around 20 lakh passengers to use its services during the festival period and has set a revenue target of about Rs 20 crore.

The additional services are being planned as Mysuru prepares for the annual Dasara celebrations, which will run from October 11 to 21 this year. With tourists and residents expected to travel to Mysuru from different parts of Karnataka, KSRTC has increased its transport arrangements to prevent overcrowding and ensure smoother connectivity.

Additional buses to address festival rush

KSRTC will deploy the 700 additional buses from different divisions to cater to the increase in passenger traffic. A significant share of the services will focus on the Bengaluru-Mysuru corridor, which is expected to see particularly high demand during the Dasara holidays.

The additional fleet will also connect Mysuru with neighbouring districts and other parts of Karnataka. According to details reported by Vijaya Karnataka, more than 300 buses are being arranged from divisions including Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru South, Tumakuru, Madhugiri, Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Another 400 buses are being arranged from Mysuru Rural, Mysuru City, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar divisions.

The move is aimed at providing additional capacity during the peak travel period when regular services are expected to experience heavy demand.

Around 20 lakh passengers expected

KSRTC has estimated that approximately 20 lakh passengers could travel during the Dasara period. The expected rise in passenger numbers is linked to the popularity of Mysuru Dasara and the holiday period across the state.

The corporation has also set a revenue target of Rs 20 crore from the additional festival-related operations. The expected revenue reflects the anticipated increase in passenger movement between Mysuru and various destinations during the celebrations.

Officials have said the passenger traffic is likely to increase significantly during the Dasara vacation. With schools observing holidays and visitors travelling with families, demand for bus services is expected to remain high throughout the festival period.

Focus on Bengaluru-Mysuru route

The Bengaluru-Mysuru route is expected to remain one of the busiest corridors during the festival. Visitors from Bengaluru and surrounding districts traditionally form a significant portion of the tourist traffic to Mysuru during Dasara.

To meet this demand, KSRTC is giving priority to services connecting Bengaluru with Mysuru. Additional buses will also be operated from districts surrounding Mysuru, allowing visitors from nearby areas to travel to the city without depending entirely on private vehicles.

The increased bus services are expected to be particularly useful during weekends and key Dasara events, when passenger movement is likely to rise sharply.

Better vehicles planned under Shakti scheme

KSRTC is also planning to deploy better-condition vehicles for the additional services. The arrangements are intended to provide passengers with safer and more comfortable travel during the festival.

Services under the Shakti scheme will also form part of the transport arrangements. The scheme provides free bus travel to eligible women in Karnataka on state-run road transport services, subject to its applicable rules. The increased availability of buses is expected to help manage the additional demand generated during the holiday period.

The corporation’s preparations are particularly important because a large number of visitors are expected to travel to Mysuru over a relatively short period.

Dasara expected to draw lakhs of visitors

Mysuru Dasara 2026 is scheduled from October 11 to 21, with the celebrations featuring cultural programmes, illumination, sporting events and the grand Jumboo Savari procession. The official Dasara programme lists the Jumboo Savari for October 21, marking the culmination of the main festival celebrations.

The large-scale celebrations are expected to generate substantial movement not only within Mysuru but also on roads connecting the city to Bengaluru and neighbouring districts.

In addition to buses, South Western Railway has announced additional unreserved special trains between Mysuru, Bengaluru and Chamarajanagar from October 16 to 22 to manage the expected festival rush. The railway services will provide another public transport option for visitors travelling to and from Mysuru.

KSRTC prepares for peak travel days

The deployment of 700 additional buses is part of KSRTC’s broader preparations to handle the Dasara passenger rush. The corporation’s focus will be on increasing capacity on routes with high demand, particularly those connecting Mysuru with Bengaluru and surrounding districts.

For visitors planning to attend major Dasara events, the additional services could provide an alternative to private vehicles, particularly when traffic volumes are expected to rise around the city.

The arrangements will also be important for local residents who depend on public transport for their daily travel during the festival period.

Transport arrangements crucial for smooth Dasara

With millions of passenger journeys expected during the festival period, effective public transport will be important to managing the movement of people in and around Mysuru. KSRTC’s decision to deploy 700 additional buses is intended to increase capacity at a time when demand is expected to rise significantly.

The additional buses, supported by special railway services, are expected to give visitors more public transport options while reducing pressure on regular services.

Conclusion: KSRTC’s plan to deploy 700 additional buses is aimed at managing the anticipated passenger surge during Mysuru Dasara 2026. With around 20 lakh passengers expected and a revenue target of Rs 20 crore, the additional services will focus on key routes, particularly Bengaluru-Mysuru, to support smoother and more convenient travel during the festival.