The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), on Saturday, launched its first multi-axle Volvo bus service from Kozhikode to Bangalore.
K.A. Khader, KSRTC Board member, flagged off the maiden service. Trade union leader M. Rajan and senior officers of the Kozhikode KSRTC depot were present.
The new bus will offer travellers a cost-effective to-and-fro travel between Kozhikode and Bangalore — one of the busiest routes where private buses dominate, said KSRTC officials. It had a seating capacity of 49 and comfortable leg space and storage facility.
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The new bus, which would start service from Kozhikode at 8.30 a.m. everyday, would pass through Sulthanbathery, Gundlupet, and Mysore and reach Bangalore in seven hours. From Bangalore, the return service would be operated at 10.30 p.m.
The fare was Rs.670 and online booking facility would be available on www.keralartc.com.
Spot tickets too would be offered if unreserved seats were available.
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According to KSRTC officials, the Volvo bus sanctioned for Kozhikode was one among the 10 newly purchased vehicles to carry out inter-State long-distance services.
“As per official figures, a multi-axle Volvo bus costs Rs.1.30 crore and the city is certainly fortunate to have one of such priced collections,” said an officer attached to the Kozhikode depot of the KSRTC. The bus would be operated under the brand name ‘Garuda,’ he said.