Nava Kerala bus service between Kozhikode and Bengaluru to restart soon

Kozhikode: The Kerala government is set to relaunch Nava Kerala bus, which was used to transport Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other cabinet ministers during the controversial Nava Kerala Sadas campaign in 2023.

After undergoing modifications, the bus has been brought from Bengaluru to Kozhikode. The bus will soon resume operations on the Kozhikode-Bengaluru route.

The service, first launched in June 2024, faced several issues, including service interruptions, scheduling problems, and increased ticket fares. In July, the bus was completely taken off the road. After five months of repairs and upgrades, it is now ready to resume operations.

The seating capacity of the bus has been increased from 26 to 37, with adjustments made to the design. The bus now features a single door instead of two, and the elevator has been removed. The ticket fare, which was initially Rs 1,280, is likely to be reduced to Rs 930.

The bus will depart Kozhikode for Bengaluru at 4 a.m. A change in the timetable, in response to public requests, is also under consideration. However, a final decision on the resumption of service is yet to be made.