Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation

Native name	Karnāṭaka Rājya Raste Sārige Nigama
Romanized name	Karnāṭaka Rājya Raste Sārige 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	September 12, 1948; 75 years ago (1948-09-12) as Mysore Government Road Transport Department[1] August 1, 1961; 62 years ago (1961-08-01) as Mysore State Road Transport Corporation November 1, 1973; 50 years ago (1973-11-01) as Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
Headquarters	KSRTC Central Office, Sarige Sadana, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, Shantinagara, Bangalore, Bangalore Urban district, Karnataka , India
Number of locations	82 Depots[2] 170 Bus Stations[2] KSRTC Central Office, Shantinagara, Bangalore Regional Workshop, Kengeri, Bangalore Regional Workshop, Hassan Central Training Institute, Bangalore Regional Training Institute, Malavalli, Mandya district Regional Training Institute, Hassan KSRTC Printing Press, Shantinagara, Bangalore KSRTC Hospital, Jayanagara 4th Block, Bangalore
Area served	Primary Base Bangalore Urban Bangalore Rural Ramanagara Kolar Chikkaballapura Tumkur Chitradurga Davanagere Shimoga Dakshina Kannada Udupi Chikmagalur Hassan Mysore Mandya Chamarajanagar Kodagu Intrastate Dharwada Uttara Kannada Belagavi Gadaga Bagalkot Haveri Kalaburagi Vijayapura Bidar Yadagir Raichur Koppal Ballari Vijayanagara Interstate Tamil Nadu Kerala Andhra Pradesh Telangana Maharashtra Goa Puducherry
Key people	Sri. V. Anbukumar, IAS Managing Director Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS Secretary to Government (Budget & Resources), Department of Finance Dr. N. V. Prasad, IAS Secretary to Government, Department of Transport Sri Prashant Kumar Mishra, IAS Director (P&V) Sri. Paresh Kumar Goel, ISDE Director (Transport), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Central Govt. Representative Sri. Girish C. Hosur, IFS Metropolitan Commissioner for BMRDA, Invitee (Official) Sri. Ramalinga Reddy, MLA Chairperson, KSRTC & Minister for Transport & Muzrai, Government of Karnataka
Brands	Karnataka Sarige Gramantara Sarige Nagara Sarige AC Nagara Sarige Samparka Sarige Ashwameda Classic Class Rajahamsa Executive Class Pallakki Class Airavat Class Airavat Club Class Ambaari Class Ambaari Dream Class Ambaari Utsav Class Flybus EV- Power Power+
Services	Public transport
Revenue	₹ 9,61,12,000 per day[2]
Owner	Government of Karnataka
Number of employees	34904[2] (2022)
Parent	Department of Transport, Government of Karnataka
Divisions	15 operating divisions Bangalore Central Ramanagara Tumkur Kolar Chikkaballapura Mysore Mandya Chamarajanagara Hassan Chikmagalur Mangalore Puttur Davanagere Shimoga Chitradurga 1 bus station division Kempegowda Bus Station, Bangalore
Website	Karnataka SRTC Main Website All Karnataka's RTCs Ticket 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 in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka. It serves routes 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 was awarded the 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 when Kerala filed a case against Karnataka SRTC in response to a legal notice by the Karnataka SRTC to stop using the acronym KSRTC.^[3][4] As of January 2022, it has a fleet strength of 8113 buses.^[2]

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.

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.^[5][1][6] This left the corporation to serve the southern part of Karnataka.
• On 23 November 2009, Vijayapura division was transferred from NWKRTC to KKRTC.

Services

• Karnataka Sarige: It is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats built on single-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 single-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: It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on single-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 a 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 single-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.
• Ashwameda Classic Class: It is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats with more comfort than Karnataka Sarige built on single-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 single-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 single-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
• Airavat Class: It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining semi-sleeper seats built on a single-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: 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).^[7]

• 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).^[8]
• Ambaari Utsav Class: It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats on a 9600 Volvo Multi-axle sleeper with a light-blue livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).^[9]
• 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.
• 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 on a trial basis between the cities of Bangalore and Mysore. It is expected to be operated on various intrastate and interstate routes out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).^[10]

Former services

• Meghdooth Class: It is 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 is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was replaced with Sheethal Class.
• Sheethal Class: It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a green livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was replaced with Airavat Class.
• Vaibhav Class: It is 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 is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct.
• Airavat Bliss Class: It is 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 is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct.^[11]
• Airavat Superia Class: 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 chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct.^[12]
• 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.^[13]

'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 domicile 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 process on the government's Seva Sindhu website.^[14]

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 a Udupi-Kasaragod bus service which is an interstate service to Kasaragod in neighbouring Kerala, then the woman passenger 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 Vijayapura district.
• KKRTC, Gulbarga: Operates out of North-Eastern Karnataka and Vijayapura 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.^[15]

See also

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

References