Bengaluru: With Onam still two months away, train tickets on key routes between Bengaluru and Kerala are already sold out, prompting private bus operators to sharply increase their fares.

Fares for buses travelling from Bengaluru to southern Kerala districts have nearly doubled. The fare from Bengaluru to Kochi, which typically ranges between Rs 1,250 and Rs 1,500, is now being charged at Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 for travel dates around September 2 and 3, when the Onam rush is expected to peak.

This surge comes as bus operators capitalise on the limited availability of train services between Bengaluru and Kerala. Compared to Chennai, there are fewer train options from Bengaluru, making buses the primary mode of transport for many Malayalis returning home for the festival.

In previous years, private bus fares during Onam have risen to nearly three times the normal rates. This year, even early bookings are seeing double the usual fares, raising concerns that prices may escalate even further as the festival approaches.

A large number of expatriate Malayalis travel home from cities like Chennai and Bengaluru for Onam, and with limited train availability, private operators are expected to continue exploiting the high demand.