Bengaluru: In view of the expected surge in passenger traffic during the Christmas holiday season, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has sanctioned 66 special bus services to Kerala on select dates in December.

The special KSRTC services will operate on December 19, 20, 23 and 24. As per the schedule, 14 buses each will run on December 19 and 20, while 19 buses each have been sanctioned for December 23 and 24 to accommodate peak holiday demand.

The additional services include special buses from Bengaluru to Pampa, already sanctioned in connection with the ongoing Sabarimala pilgrimage season. KSRTC said the holiday services will also connect Bengaluru with major destinations in Kerala, including Munnar, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kottayam.

The move aims to ease congestion on regular routes and ensure smooth travel for passengers heading to Kerala for Christmas and year-end holidays. Passengers have been advised to book tickets in advance to avoid last-minute rush, as demand is expected to remain high during the festive period.