KSRTC’s Ambaari Utsav sleeper buses between Bengaluru airport and Kundapur carry over 32,000 passengers, fetch ₹42 crore revenue

Responding to rising passenger demand, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) introduced two Ambaari Utsav sleeper buses between Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru and Kundapur.

Since the launch, from January to August 2025, the two Ambaari Utsav buses (schedule bus numbers 44/45 and 39/40) together carried over 32,000 passengers and generated revenue 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 shows the growing demand for the airport connectivity service,” an official said.

This was the first time KSRTC had deployed sleeper buses on the airport–Kundapur route, replacing the earlier Flybus services that operated with seat-only coaches.

Officials said the move comes following persistent appeals from passengers for sleeper buses, given the long duration of the journey. The airport–Kundapur route takes nearly 11 hours. The introduction of Volvo 9600 multi-axle Ambaari Utsav sleeper buses offered greater comfort and convenience, officials said.

Long distance travel

“These buses are designed for long-distance travel and come with Scandinavian-inspired aerodynamic design and plush interiors. The 15-metre-long coaches are fitted with 40 sleeper berths in a 2x1 configuration, ensuring a comfortable ride compared to seat-only buses,” a senior KSRTC official said.

The buses are operating daily via Hassan, Mangaluru, Udupi and Manipal, following the same route as the previous 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 next day.

Demand for sleeper buses

Officials said the Ambaari Utsav fleet has been introduced on select high-demand inter-city routes connecting Bengaluru to Mangaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Calicut. “There has been consistent demand for sleeper buses on long-haul airport routes. With Ambaari Utsav, passengers get a technically advanced, premium travel option,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the Flybus service, KSRTC’s flagship premium airport shuttle with seat-only coaches, continues to connect KIA with major cities and towns in Karnataka, including Mysuru, Mangaluru and Madikeri.