Kozhikode: The Nava Kerala bus service from Kozhikode to Bengaluru resumed on Wednesday, with full-capacity bookings. All 37 seats were booked for the first trip, which departed in the morning. After being suspended for six months, the service returned with an increased seating capacity and a revised schedule aimed at improving passenger convenience. 

Previously, the service was scheduled to leave at 4:30 am, but it now departs at 8:25 am, reaching Bengaluru by 4:25 pm. The return journey begins at 10:25 pm from Bengaluru, arriving in Kozhikode by 5:20 am.

Passengers expressed that the new timings are more convenient, stating that the earlier schedule required them to leave home as early as 2:00 am, which was highly inconvenient.

The ₹900 fare for this Garuda premium service has also proven attractive. Tickets for the next day were fully booked, and online reservations for Sunday have been completed. Over half the seats for Friday and Saturday trips have already been reserved.

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 six months of repairs and upgrades, the bus resumed operations on Wednesday.

The seating capacity of the bus was also 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 ₹1,280, is now priced at ₹900.