The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Friday launched five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 luxury buses, further expanding its premium fleet on key intercity routes.
Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy flagged off the buses at the KSRTC Central Office in Bengaluru.
According to KSRTC, these new-generation buses, a continuation of the 20 buses flagged off by the Chief Minister in December 2024, will operate on the Bengaluru-Tirupati (one bus), Mangaluru-Bengaluru (two buses), and Mysuru-Mantralaya (two buses) routes.
“Equipped with Scandinavian-style exteriors and plush new interiors, the 15-metre-long buses offer 51 comfortable seats, improved headroom, 20% more luggage space, and advanced safety features such as fire alarm systems with water sprinklers and rear fog lights. Additional highlights include USB and C-type charging ports, improved air-conditioning, better fuel efficiency, and enhanced driver visibility,” a release said.
Mr. Reddy also launched welfare initiatives for the employees’ families. Appointment orders were issued to 45 candidates for KST constable posts under compassionate grounds, a process that had been stalled for nearly a decade. Since its resumption last year, 271 such appointments have been made across KSRTC, Mr. Reddy stated.
A compensation of ₹1 crore was handed over to the family of an employee who died in an accident. An additional ₹2.6 crore was distributed to families of 26 employees who passed away due to illness, under the Employee Family Welfare Relief Scheme.
The Minister advised families to use the compensation wisely, particularly for children’s education and essential needs.
