One Ambaari Utsav bus departs from KIA at 9 p.m. and reaches Kundapur at 8.15 a.m. Another leaves at 10 p.m. and arrives in Kundapura at 9 a.m. the following day. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Since the launch, from January to August 2025, the 2 Ambaari Utsav buses (schedule bus numbers 44/45 and 39/40) collectively carried over 32,000 passengers and generated income of ₹42.06 crore.
While schedule 44/45 accounted for ₹18.14 crore with 16,024 passengers, schedule 39/40 contributed ₹23.92 crore with 16,099 passengers.
“This reveals the rising demand for the airport connectivity service,” an official stated.
Performance (Jan–Aug 2025)
Total Revenue: ₹42.06 crore
Total Passengers: 32,123
Schedule 44/45 bus- ₹18.14 crore | 16,024 passengers
Schedule 39/40 bus- ₹23.92 crore | 16,099 passengers
This was the primary time KSRTC had deployed sleeper buses on the airport–Kundapur route, changing the sooner Flybus companies that operated with seat-only coaches.
Officials stated the transfer comes following persistent appeals from passengers for sleeper buses, given the lengthy period of the journey. The airport–Kundapur route takes almost 11 hours. The introduction of Volvo 9600 multi-axle Ambaari Utsav sleeper buses provided larger consolation and comfort, officers stated.
Long distance journey
“These buses are designed for long-distance journey and include Scandinavian-inspired aerodynamic design and plush interiors. The 15-metre-long coaches are fitted with 40 sleeper berths in a 2×1 configuration, making certain a cushty trip in comparison with seat-only buses,” a senior KSRTC official stated.
The buses are working day by day by way of Hassan, Mangaluru, Udupi and Manipal, following the identical route because the earlier Flybus service.
According to KSRTC, one bus departs from KIA at 9 p.m. and reaches Kundapur at 8.15 a.m. Another leaves at 10 p.m. and arrives in Kundapura at 9 a.m. the following day.
Demand for sleeper buses
Officials stated the Ambaari Utsav fleet has been launched on choose high-demand inter-city routes connecting Bengaluru to Mangaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Calicut. “There has been constant demand for sleeper buses on long-haul airport routes. With Ambaari Utsav, passengers get a technically superior, premium journey possibility,” the official added.
Meanwhile, the Flybus service, KSRTC’s flagship premium airport shuttle with seat-only coaches, continues to attach KIA with main cities and cities in Karnataka, together with Mysuru, Mangaluru and Madikeri.
Published – September 17, 2025 04:32 pm IST
