Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation

Not to be confused with Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation

Native name	Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Nigama
Formerly	Mysore Government Road Transport Department (1948–1961) Mysore State Road Transport Corporation (1961–1973)
Company type	Public
Industry	Public transport bus service
Predecessor	Mysore Government Road Transport Department
Founded	12 September 1948(77 years ago) (1948-09-12); as Mysore Government Road Transport Department [1] 1 August 1961(64 years ago) (1961-08-01); renamed as Mysore State Road Transport Corporation 1 November 1973(52 years ago) (1973-11-01); renamed as Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
Headquarters	KSRTC Central Office, Sarige Sadana, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, Shantinagara, Bengaluru, Bengaluru Urban district, Karnataka , India
Number of locations	82 Depots [2] 170 Bus Stations [2] KSRTC Central Office, Shantinagara, Bengaluru Regional Workshop, Kengeri, Bengaluru Regional Workshop, Hassan Central Training Institute, Bengaluru Regional Training Institute, Malavalli, Mandya district Regional Training Institute, Hassan KSRTC Printing Press, Shantinagara, Bengaluru KSRTC Hospital, Jayanagara 4th Block, Bengaluru
Area served	Primary Base Bengaluru Urban Bengaluru Rural Ramanagara Kolar Chikkaballapura Tumkur Chitradurga Davanagere Shimoga Mangaluru Udupi Chikmagalur Hassan Mysore Mandya Chamarajanagara Kodagu Intrastate Dharwada Uttara Kannada Belagavi Gadag Bagalkot Haveri Kalaburagi Bijapur Bidar Yadgir Raichur Koppal Bellari Vijayanagara Interstate Tamil Nadu Kerala Andhra Pradesh Telangana Maharashtra Goa Puducherry
Key people	V. Anbukumar, IAS Managing Director Ekroop Caur, IAS Secretary to Government (Budget & Resources), Department of Finance N. V. Prasad, IAS Secretary to Government, Department of Transport Prashant Kumar Mishra, IAS Director (P&V) Paresh Kumar Goel, ISDE Director (Transport), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Central Govt. Representative Girish C. Hosur, IFS Metropolitan Commissioner for BMRDA, Invitee (Official) Ramalinga Reddy, MLA Minister for Transport & Muzrai, Government of Karnataka S R Srinivasa (Vasu) , MLA Chairperson, KSRTC
Brands	Karnataka Sarige Gramantara Sarige Nagara Sarige AC-Nagara Sarige Samparka Sarige Ashwamedha Classic Class Rajahamsa Executive Class Pallakki Class Airavat Class Airavat Club Class Airavat Club Class 2.0 Ambaari Class Ambaari Dream Class Ambaari Utsav Class Flybus EV-PowerPower+
Services	Public transport
Revenue	₹96,112,000 (US$1.1 million) per day [2]
Owner	Government of Karnataka
Number of employees	34904 [2]  (2022)
Parent	Department of Transport, Government of Karnataka
Divisions	1 bus station division Kempegowda Bus Station 15 operating divisions Bengaluru Central Ramanagara Tumkur Kolar Chikkaballapura Mysore Mandya Chamarajanagara Hassan Chikmagalur Mangaluru Puttur Davanagere Shimoga Chitradurga Bengaluru
Subsidiaries	Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation
Website	KSRTC Main Website Online Reservation Namma Cargo Logistics and Parcel Services
Footnotes /references 8113 buses serve 23.23 lakh passengers per day [2]

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) is a state-owned public road transport corporation company in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka. It serves routes to 31 districts and as well as to towns and cities in the southern part of Karnataka and connects it to the rest of the state and the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa and the Union territory of Puducherry. In June 2021, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation KSRTC challenged the use of acronym KSRTC by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trade Marks, which is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The case was transferred to the Madras Highcourt and it ruled that Karnataka SRTC had registered the acronym KSRTC in 2013 but Kerala SRTC did it in 2015. So Highcourt dismissed the petition and allowed the continuing use of acronym by Karnataka SRTC. ^{[3] [4]} As of April 2024, it has a fleet strength of more than 25000 vehicles. ^[5]

History

Foundation

Mysore Government Road Transport Department was inaugurated on 12 September 1948 with 120 buses. ^[1] The transport department of The Mysore state administrated it until 1961.

Corporatization

It was subsequently converted into an independent corporation under Section 3 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950 on 1 August 1961, In 1961, after successfully converting into an independent corporation all assets and liabilities of MGRTD were transferred to Mysore State Road Transport Corporation. ^[1]

Merger

On 1 October 1961, Bangalore Transport Service was merged with it. ^[1]

Renaming

On 1 November 1973, the Mysore state was renamed as Karnataka, thus Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. ^[6]

Bifurcation

• On 15 August 1997, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of Bangalore Metropolitan Region. It was formed by separating the Bangalore Transport Service.
• On 1 November 1997, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of Northwestern parts of Karnataka.
• On 15 August 2000, Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (then North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of northeastern parts of Karnataka. ^{[7] [1] [8]} This left the corporation to serve the southern part of Karnataka.
• On 23 November 2009, Bijapur division was transferred from NWKRTC to KKRTC.

Services

• Karnataka Sarige

  

  Image of KSRTC Sarige buses. Top one is Eicher and the bottom one is Ashok Leyland (Both are BSVI). Both images are taken from KSRTC's website.

  
  It is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher suburban chassis with a durangi livery of two colours consisting of silver and red colours. It is an interdistrict, interstate service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Gramantara Sarige
  It is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher suburban chassis with a durangi livery of two colours consisting of blue and white colours. It is a service to connect villages to nearby cities and towns in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Nagara Sarige

  

  KSRTC Mysore Division's Nagara Sarige built on Tata Marcopolo chassis

  
  It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher urban chassis with various liveries depending upon the locale. It is an intracity and town service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka) except for Bangalore. Bangalore Metropolitan Region is served by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
• AC Nagara Sarige
  It is an AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on multi-axle Volvo urban chassis with various liveries depending upon the locale. It is an intracity and town service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka) except for Bangalore. Bangalore Metropolitan Region is served by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
• Samparka Sarige
  It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher with white-pink livery. It is a shuttle bus service between Kempegowda Bus Station and Mysuru Road Bus Station in Bangalore.
• Ashwamedha Classic Class
  It is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats with more comfort than Karnataka Sarige built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland suburban chassis with a durangi livery of two colours consisting of silver and red colours. It is an interdistrict, interstate point-to-point service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Rajahamsa Executive Class
  It is a non-AC ultra-deluxe bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Pallakki Class It is a non-AC ultra-deluxe bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland Viking 222WB 11.3m chassis with a silver livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Airavat Class

  

  KSRTC's Airavat Class

  
  Launched in 2003, It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining semi-sleeper seats built on a bi-axle Volvo B7R (Old) or Volvo B8R (New) chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Airavat Club Class

  

  KSRTC's Airavat Club Class

  

  A Volvo 9400 B11R Airavat Club Class bus operated by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation

  
  Launched in 2012, It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a multi-axle Volvo B9R (Old) or Volvo B11R (New), Scania Metrolink and Mercedes-Benz 0 500 R 1830 chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). ^[9]
• Airavat Club Class 2.0
  Launched in 2024, It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats using Volvo 9600 multi-axle semi-sleeper buses with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Flybus
  It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with chemical toilets, Wi-Fi, and an auto hand wash system built on a multi-axle Volvo B9R (Old) or Volvo B11R (New) chassis with a golden livery. It is a service connecting Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore to Mysore, Madikeri and Kundapura.
• Ambaari Class

  

  KSRTC's Ambaari Class

  
  It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on a single-axle Corona chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Ambaari Dream Class
  It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on a multi-axle Volvo B11R chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). ^[10]
• Ambaari Utsav Class
  It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats on a Volvo 9600 multi-axle sleeper with a light-blue livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). ^[11]
• EV- Power Plus+
  It is an AC electric luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built by Olectra with a blue livery. It is presently running between the cities of Bengaluru and Mysore, Madikeri, Virajpet, Davanagere, Chikmagalur and Shimoga. It is expected to be operated on various intrastate and interstate routes out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). ^[12]

Former services

• Meghdooth Class: It was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a dark blue-white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was replaced with Sheethal Class.
• Sheethal Class: It was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a green livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was replaced with Airavat Class.
• Vaibhav Class: It was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with less reclining compared to Rajahamsa Executive Class built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct.
• Airavat Bliss Class: It was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with chemical toilets, Wi-Fi, pantry and individual TV screens built on a multi-axle Volvo chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct. ^[13]
• Airavat Superia Class: It was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with chemical toilets, Wi-Fi, and an auto hand wash system built on a multi-axle Volvo chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct. ^[14]
• Airavat Diamond Class: It was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a multi-axle Scania chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was rebranded and merged with Airavat Club Class. ^[15]

'Shakti Scheme' Free Bus Service for women

'Shakti Scheme' was announced by the Second Siddaramaiah ministry on 2 June 2023. It started on 11 June 2023, providing free-of-charge bus service to Karnataka-domiciled women. Beneficiaries show their government-issued photo identity and address proof for the first three months. Bus conductors issue them zero-fare tickets. Thereafter, beneficiaries obtain Shakti smartcards (named after the name of the scheme) through an application submitted via the government's Seva Sindhu website Archived 2 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine . ^[16]

Terms and conditions of the scheme

• The scheme will apply to all four Road Transport Corporations in the state (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC).
• Nagara Sarige, Gramantara Sarige, Karnataka Sarige, Vayavya Nagara Sarige, Vayavya Gramantara Sarige, Vayavya Karnataka Sarige, Kalyana Nagara Sarige, Kalyana Gramantara Sarige, Kalyana Karnataka Sarige, Bengaluru Sarige, Samparka and Astra services will be part of the scheme.
• Women can travel for free only on bus services within the state. Bus services to destinations outside Karnataka will be outside the scheme's purview even if women travel within the state. For example, a woman travelling to Mangaluru in Karnataka i.e., within the state on an Udupi-Kasaragod bus service which is an interstate service to Kasaragod in neighbouring Kerala, will have to buy a ticket.
• The scheme will not apply to luxury buses (Rajahamsa Executive Class, Airavat Class, Airavat Club Class, Pallakki Class, Amoghavarsha Class, Ambaari Class, Ambaari Dream Class, Ambaari Utsav Class, Kalyana Ratha Class, Fly Bus, EV- Power Plus+, Bengaluru Darshini, Vajra and Vayu Vajra services).
• Half of the seats on KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC's ordinary and express buses will be reserved for men. Luxury, AC and interstate buses as well as BMTC buses will be exempted from this.
• The government will reimburse the RTCs based on the distance women travel.

Karnataka's Road Transport Undertakings

• KSRTC, Bangalore: Operates out of Southern Karnataka.
• NWKRTC, Hubli : Operates out of North-Western Karnataka except Bijapur district.
• KKRTC, Gulbarga : Operates out of North-Eastern Karnataka and Bijapur district.
• BMTC, Bangalore : Operates in Bangalore Metropolitan Region offering transit service.

Namma Cargo Logistics and Parcel Services

Namma Cargo Logistics and Parcel Services was launched on 26 February 2021. It provides cargo and parcel services on the routes in which The KSRTC (Karnataka), NWKRTC and KKRTC buses travel. ^[17]

See also

• Buses portal
• Transport portal

• List of bus depots in Karnataka
• List of bus stations in Karnataka
• North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation
• Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation

References

1. "History of KSRTC". KSRTC.in. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
2. "KSRTC Key Statistics". Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
3. Essentials, Law. "KSRTC: Case Study of The Dispute Between Kerala and Karnataka. Then the case was transferred to the Madras Highcourt and in December 2025, the Madras Highcourt acknowledged that the name KSRTC was trademarked by Karnataka in 2013 but the Kerala did it in 2015. But the Karnataka started using this acronym in 1974 and Kerala in 1965. So Madras Highcourt allowed both parties to continue using the acronym with their respective emblems that is Gandhaberunda (Karnataka RTC) and Kerala RTC. observing". Law Essentials. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
4. "Karnataka retains the legal right to use KSRTC abbreviation". Deccan Herald. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
5. "Key Statistics". ksrtc.karnataka.gov.in. 12 October 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
6. Ray, Aparajita (22 July 2012). "Wheels of change turn Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation into a winner". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 12 April 2025.
7. Ray, Aparajita (22 July 2012). "Wheels of change turn Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation into a winner". The Times of India . Retrieved 24 July 2016.
8. "About Us - Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation". kkrtc.karnataka.gov.in. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
9. "KSRTC starts service to Nashik". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
10. "KSRTC to roll out Volvo multi-axle sleeper buses" . Retrieved 26 October 2019.
11. "Star of Mysore Online". Star of Mysore. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
12. "Bengaluru-Mysuru 'EV- Power Plus' starts from Monday; Tickets cheaper than multi-axle AC fleet". TimesNow. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
13. "KSRTC launches volvo with pantry" . Retrieved 20 December 2015.
14. "KSRTC launched four Airavat Superia buses with chemical toilets".
15. "Scania delivers first batch to KSRTC" . Retrieved 20 December 2015.
16. "Guidelines released for free travel bus scheme for women in Karnataka". Deccan Herald. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
17. "Karnataka govt launches 'Namma Cargo' parcel and cargo service, to be run by Karnataka SRTC". The News Minute. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

^[1]

1. "Karnataka retains the legal right to use KSRTC abbreviation". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2025.