Thiruvananthapuram: The Nava Kerala bus, now branded as Garuda Premium, will launch its inter-state services starting on Sunday, May 5. 

The trip would cover the Kozhikode-Bengaluru route, with stops in Kalpetta, Sultan Bathery, Gundlupet, Mysuru, and Mandya.

It will depart from Kozhikode at 4 a.m. and reach Bengaluru at around 11:35 a.m. The return trip will start at 2:30 p.m. and reach Kozhikode by 10:05 p.m. 

The bus fare is fixed at Rs. 1,171, including cess. An additional five percent luxury tax will be levied for AC services. The bus has 26 push-back seats and facilities like a lift, restroom, television, and mobile charging points.

The decision to use the Nava Kerala bus for commercial operations came after speculations rose about their unused state even after modifications.