Bengaluru-Kerala travel in Vishu season expensive; KSRTC fares up by 30-50 per cent

Passengers are protesting exorbitant ticket fares charged by the KSRTC from Bengaluru to Kerala under the guise of dynamic pricing during the Vishu holiday season. Ticket fares have gone up by 30-50 per cent, on April 10 and 11, the busiest days in the season.

Meanwhile, dynamic pricing allows the corporation to increase ticket prices by at least 50 per cent during weekends and festival seasons. This system was launched in premium services in November 2025 to prevent losses incurred when services run with insufficient passengers. However, the ticket price will drop if 50 per cent of the seats remain vacant, 24 hours before the bus departs. Besides, end-to-end ticket fares are also charged during the festival season. Those who get off at any stop before the destination have to pay the full fare. 

Vishu dynamic charge 
Thiruvananthapuram: AC sleeper – ₹2,858, AC seater – ₹1,751
Kottayam: AC sleeper – ₹2,022, AC seater – ₹1,637
Ernakulam: AC sleeper – ₹2,440, deluxe (non-AC) – ₹1,081
Thrissur: AC seater – ₹1,000, deluxe – ₹1,081
Kozhikode: AC seater – ₹1,454, deluxe – ₹1,094 (via Mananthawady)
Kannur: AC seater – ₹1,420, deluxe – ₹898
Payyannur: AC seater – ₹1,496, superfast – ₹711

Election special
RTC buses from Kerala and Karnataka have arranged special services today to transport voters to their hometowns to cast their votes in the legislative assembly elections. Kerala RTC has scheduled 12 special buses to Kannur, Kanhangad, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, Karnataka RTC has opened booking for 18 special buses to Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam.