Thiruvananthapuram: Seventy-five years have passed since Thiruvananthapuram introduced its first double-decker bus, a landmark moment in the city's public transport history.

The service was launched on December 10, 1948, on the Kowdiar–East Fort route. The bus operated as an express service with just seven stops and ran between 7.30 am and 7.45 pm every day.

At the time, a regular bus cost around ₹3,000 to build, while a double-decker cost ₹7,000. The vehicle had 26 seats on the upper deck and 28 on the lower deck, and passengers were not permitted to stand during travel.

The service was started by the Travancore State Transport Department, which began operations in 1938. Although the Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was constituted in 1950, the Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) took shape only in April 1965. Initially, the corporation operated several double-decker buses, but over time, the number dwindled to just two.

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To offer tourists a panoramic view of the city, the corporation now operates two double-decker electric buses as well.

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