Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy flagged off 70 non-AC ‘Pallakki’ sleeper buses and 45 regular buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy flagged off 70 non-AC ‘Pallakki’ sleeper buses and 45 regular buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday flagged off 70 new non-air-conditioned ‘Pallakki’ sleeper buses and 45 Karnataka Sarige buses to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in Bengaluru, strengthening the company’s inter-city transport network.
According to KSRTC officials, the newly launched Pallakki sleeper buses will ply to several major and pilgrimage destinations including Udupi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Dharmasthala, Sringeri, Horanadu, Agumbe, Chikkamagaluru, Davangere, Chitradurga, Hampi, Raichur, Jamkhandi, Kasur, Puttur, Subkutra, Manketra Tiruchirappalli, Kozhikode, Munnar, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Kottayam, Hyderabad, Chennai, Panaji, Madurai, Kumbakonam and Ernakulam.
Mr. Reddy said the government plans to further expand the KSRTC fleet in the coming months. “A total of 805 new Karnataka Sarige and Urban/Rural buses will be added to the company’s fleet during April, May and June 2026,” he said.
Designed for long-distance travel, Pallakki buses will primarily serve destinations more than 500 km from Bengaluru for comfortable overnight journeys. Each bus has 30 beds and is equipped with an ergonomically designed interior.
The buses include modern passenger amenities such as mobile phone and laptop charging ports, mobile phone holders, warm white LED reading lights, public address system, audio speakers, passenger pillows and a shoe rack under the lower bed. They are also equipped with a rear view camera to assist drivers, according to KSRTC officials.
KSRTC first introduced non-air-conditioned sleeper buses in 2011, though they remained unbranded for several years. In 2023, the company introduced 40 such buses under the ‘Pallakki’ brand.
Meanwhile, the newly branded Karnataka Sarige buses will accommodate 50 plus one passengers.
Published – 13 March 2026 19:52 IST
