Bengaluru-Puri high-tech bus service soon

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is soon going to introduce high-tech Ambaari Utsav Bus services from Bengaluru to three cities in Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. With this, people will be able to travel to Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri directly from Bengaluru.

As per reports, the bus services via Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, covering over 1,500 km in about 18 hours one way, will be the longest operated by the corporation. Currently, the longest operating route is 1058 km, from Bengaluru to Shirdi, according to officials.

As per a report by The Hindu, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had received numerous requests to introduce bus services to Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, the sacred pilgrim city.

Reddy was quoted as saying, "As this will be KSRTC’s longest route, we plan to deploy the new European-style, air-conditioned sleeper Ambaari Utsav buses to ensure a comfortable journey for passengers."

KSRTC is in talks with the Odisha State Road Corporation to operate the service within the state and the response has been positive so far. 

Odisha has appointed officials to study the route. Further, KSRTC has also received positive responses from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, through which the bus will pass.

KSRTC Managing Director V. Anbukumar was quoted as saying, "The routes will not only connect Odisha but also key destinations like Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. We expect this route to generate additional revenue for KSRTC while providing excellent service to passengers and devotees travelling to Puri.”

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Notably, the service will operate with two buses on one route, one heading to the destination from Bengaluru and the other returning on the same day. The multi-axle AC sleeper coaches are designed to ensure the comfort of the passengers throughout the long journey. Furthermore, the buses will halt at multiple quality locations to ensure a smooth and pleasant travel experience for the passengers, informed the officials.