Bengaluru: The Karnataka RTC has decided to make the weekend special service from Bengaluru to Munnar permanent, owing to the increased demand. Currently, non-AC sleeper buses operate service from Bengaluru to Munnar on Fridays and return on Sundays. The service that was earlier available only during the festival season was extended to the weekends. The bus that departs at 9.11 pm from the Bengaluru Santinagar terminal reaches Munnar via Salem, Coimbatore, Pollachi and Udumalpet, by 10.5 am. Meanwhile, the return trip from Munnar begins at 5.08 pm and reaches Bengaluru by 6.30 next morning. Passengers could purchase tickets on this bus for Rs 1,246. The running time of this bus service is 13 hours.
Change in route for Swift Deluxe?
Meanwhile, passengers have been demanding to change the route of the Kerala RTC’s daily Munnar Swift Deluxe bus from Bengaluru via Mysuru and Kozhikode. Running time could be saved if the bus operates service via Salem and Coimbatore. In the festival seasons, passengers who travel from Bengaluru to Munnar mostly rely on direct buses. This bus departs from Bengaluru Satellite Bus Terminal at 4 pm and reaches Munnar at 7.51 am, via Mysuru, Bathery, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Perumbavoor, Kothamangalam and Adimali. Meanwhile, the return trip from Munnar starts at 3.32 pm and reaches Bengaluru by 7.30 next morning. The running time of this bus is around 16 hours. The ticket fare is Rs 913 on weekdays and Rs 1,191 on weekends.
No stop at Cantonment
After the Onam season, six trains from Kerala will not have stops at the Bengaluru Cantonment station. The stops of 44 trains have been temporarily cancelled from September 20 to December 20 due to the renovation works of platforms 1 and 2. The passengers must note that KSR Bengaluru – Ernakulam Express (12677), Ernakulam – KSR Bengaluru Express (12678), Mysuru – Kochuveli Express (16315), Kochuveli – Mysuru Express (16316), KSR Bengaluru – Kanyakumari Express (16526) and Kanyakumari – Bengaluru Express (16525) will not stop at the Bengaluru Cantonment station. Those who have booked tickets from Cantonment can board the train from KSR Bengaluru, KR Puram, Whitefield and Karmalaram stations.