Looks like a flight’s business class, but it’s a KSRTC bus: Watch Kerala’s luxury ride

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has introduced a premium luxury Volvo AC bus service between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, offering passengers airline-style amenities including reclining seats, individual entertainment screens, free Wi-Fi and an onboard restroom.

Kerala KSRTC’s luxury bus service

The new executive-class service is designed to offer a more comfortable long-distance travel experience while remaining accessible to passengers using public transport. The service connects Thiruvananthapuram with Ernakulam, covering key stops including Kollam, Alappuzha and the High Court area.

The bus has 36 premium reclining seats with additional legroom. Each seat comes with an individual entertainment screen and USB charging facility, while passengers also have access to free Wi-Fi during the journey.

One of the key features is an onboard restroom, along with a dedicated pantry equipped with a mini-refrigerator and coffee maker. The combination of these facilities has led to comparisons with business-class air travel.

The reported fare for the Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi journey is ₹505, making the service considerably cheaper than air travel while offering some premium conveniences.

Timings and route

The executive service operates from Monday to Friday.

The morning bus departs from Thiruvananthapuram at 5.30 am and travels towards Ernakulam through Kollam Ayathil, Alappuzha Komadi and the High Court before reaching its destination at around 9.30 am.

The return service leaves Ernakulam at 5.30 pm and follows the same route towards Thiruvananthapuram.

Online bookings are available through the official KSRTC reservation system. Passengers can also book through the Ente KSRTC Neo OPRS app, reservation counters or WhatsApp by sending “Hi” to the number mentioned by KSRTC.

Part of KSRTC’s wider modernisation

The luxury Volvo service is part of a broader effort by KSRTC to expand beyond conventional bus operations and improve passenger experience.

The corporation has introduced premium AC services, digital ticketing and real-time bus tracking. Its Grama Vandi services are aimed at improving connectivity in rural areas, while KSRTC has also expanded into tourism with travel packages covering pilgrimage destinations, forests, heritage sites and other attractions.

In Thiruvananthapuram, double-decker City Ride services offer sightseeing options, while tourism-focused services such as the Royal View double-decker in Munnar combine travel and sightseeing.

Kerala has also expanded water-based tourism and public transport options through water taxis and hop-on-hop-off boat services around Kochi and Muziris.

The premium Volvo service reflects a shift in how state-run public transport systems are attempting to compete for passengers who may otherwise prefer private vehicles or flights for longer journeys.

For KSRTC, the challenge is to balance premium features with affordability. A reported ₹505 fare places the service in a different category from ordinary bus travel while remaining far below the cost of domestic air travel on the same broad route.

The service also targets frequent business and leisure travellers who may value predictable timings, charging facilities, connectivity and onboard conveniences. Its success could influence whether similar premium services are expanded to other long-distance routes in Kerala.

At the same time, the luxury service forms only one part of KSRTC’s wider transformation, which includes digital services, rural connectivity and tourism-oriented transport.