Kochi: As the Onam festival is getting closer, ticket prices for private buses from cities like Bengaluru and Chennai to Kerala have gone up a lot. A sleeper bus ride from Bengaluru to Ernakulam, which usually costs around Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,400, is now almost Rs 4,000. From Chennai, the normal Rs 1,800 fare has now gone up to more than Rs 4,100 just before the festival.
As the festival date nears, prices are likely to increase even more. Train tickets are already full, and many people are now waiting to see if the Railways or the Kerala government will add more special services for travel.
92 special trains announced
Till now, the authorities have planned 92 special trains for the Onam season. These include:
- 6 trains from Chennai
- 22 trains from Mangaluru
- 18 trains from Bengaluru
- 10 trains from Velankanni
- 36 trains from Patna
Also, 10 regular trains will run with extra coaches during this time. These include:
- Thiruvananthapuram–Kozhikode Janshatabdi Express (extra chair car)
- Thiruvananthapuram–Ernakulam Vanchinad Express (extra second class general coach)
- Thiruvananthapuram–Guruvayur Intercity (extra second class general coach)
- Thiruvananthapuram–Madurai Amrita Express (extra second class general coach)
- Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram Maveli Express (extra sleeper coach)
KSRTC buses
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will run 51 special bus services from August 29 to September 16. These buses will go to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mysuru. The buses include Superfast, Swift, and multi-axle types. Seats for buses on Thiruvonam day and the Sunday after are already full, as many people travel back home after the celebrations.
Karnataka SRTC buses
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has also planned 47 special buses for Onam from Bengaluru to different places in Kerala. Most of these buses will go to Ernakulam and Thrissur. Officials said they are adding buses based on how many people are travelling, and more buses will be arranged on the morning of Thiruvonam if needed.