Kochi: With the Onam festival fast approaching, travel costs have shot up sharply as private bus fares from Bengaluru and Chennai to Kerala soar past ₹4,000, leaving homebound Malayalis scrambling for affordable alternatives.
A sleeper bus ticket from Bengaluru to Ernakulam, which usually costs around ₹1,300–1,400, now comes with a steep price tag of nearly ₹4,000. From Chennai to Kerala, fares too have surged dramatically, climbing from ₹1,800 to over ₹4,100.
To ease the festive travel rush, authorities have rolled out several options. The Indian Railways has announced 92 special trains for Onam, including 18 from Bengaluru, 6 from Chennai, 22 from Mangaluru, 10 from Velankanni, and 36 from Patna. Ten regular services will also run with additional coaches.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has planned 51 Onam special buses between August 29 and September 16, covering Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mysuru. These include Superfast, Swift, and multi-axle services, though peak-day seats around Thiruvonam are already filling up fast.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka State RTC will deploy 47 special buses from Bengaluru to Kerala, mainly towards Ernakulam and Thrissur, with extra services on Thiruvonam morning based on demand.
