The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is a state-owned public road transport corporation in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka. It serves routes within Karnataka and connects the state to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa and the Union territory of Puducherry. According to the corporation, it operates a fleet of 8,891 vehicles, including 48 electric buses, and carries about 35.56 lakh passengers per day.
The acronym KSRTC is also used by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, and the two corporations have disputed its use. In June 2021, Deccan Herald reported that Karnataka retained the legal right to use the abbreviation.
History Foundation Mysore Government Road Transport Department was inaugurated on 12 September 1948 with 120 buses. The transport department of The Mysore state administered it until 1961.
Corporatization It was subsequently converted into an independent corporation under Section 3 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950 on 1 August 1961, In 1961, after successfully converting into an independent corporation all assets and liabilities of MGRTD were transferred to Mysore State Road Transport Corporation.
Merger On 1 October 1961, Bangalore Transport Service was merged with it.
Renaming On 1 November 1973, the Mysore state was renamed as Karnataka, thus Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.
Bifurcation
On 15 August 1997, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of Bangalore Metropolitan Region. It was formed by separating the Bangalore Transport Service. On 1 November 1997, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of Northwestern parts of Karnataka. On 15 August 2000, Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (then North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of northeastern parts of Karnataka. This left the corporation to serve the southern part of Karnataka. On 23 November 2009, Bijapur(Vijayapura) division was transferred from NWKRTC to KKRTC. On 1 January 2024, Mysore Division was split into Mysore City Transport and Mysore Rural divisions. On 1 June 2026, the new Madhugiri Division began functioning.
Destination
It serves routes to all 31 districts in Karnataka and as well as to towns and cities in the southern part of Karnataka and connects it to the rest of the state and the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa and the Union territory of Puducherry.
Fleet As of 2026, KSRTC reported a fleet of 8,891 vehicles, including 48 electric buses, running 8,317 schedules and about 30.73 lakh effective kilometres per day. The corporation started operating electric buses under the "EV Power Plus" brand on a gross cost contract model from 16 January 2023.
For comparison, KSRTC's mechanical engineering department recorded a fleet of 8,199 vehicles on 18 June 2022: 3,885 Ashok Leyland, 2,499 Tata, 1,291 Eicher, 376 Volvo, 75 Scania, 48 Corona and 25 Mercedes-Benz.
Services +Name of the ServiceDescriptionManufacturerGalleryKarnataka SarigeIt is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher suburban chassis with a durangi livery of two colours consisting of silver and red colours. It is an interdistrict, interstate service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Ashok Leyland Tata EicherGramantara SarigeIt is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher suburban chassis with a durangi livery of two colours consisting of blue and white colours and orange colour at some parts. It is a service to connect villages to nearby cities and towns in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).Nagara SarigeIt is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher urban chassis with various liveries depending upon the locale. It is an intracity and town service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka) except for Bangalore. Bangalore Metropolitan Region is served by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport CorporationSamparka SarigeIt is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher with white-pink livery. It is a shuttle bus service between Kempegowda Bus Station and Mysuru Road Bus Station in Bengaluru. Ashok Leyland Tata Motors Eicher MotorsAshwamedha Classic ClassIt is a non-AC bus service with 3+2 non-reclining seats with more comfort than Karnataka Sarige built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland suburban chassis with a durangi livery of two colours consisting of silver and red colours. It is an interdistrict, interstate point-to-point service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Ashok LeylandRajahamsa Executive ClassIt is a non-AC ultra-deluxe bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Ashok Leyland Tata Motors Eicher MotorsNon-AC Sleeper ClassIt is a non-AC ultra-deluxe bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland, Tata and Eicher chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).Pallakki ClassIt is a non-AC ultra-deluxe bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on bi-axle Ashok Leyland Viking 222WB 11.3m chassis with a silver livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Ashok LeylandEV Power Plus+It is an AC electric luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built by Olectra with a blue livery. It is presently running between the cities of Bengaluru and Mysore, Madikeri, Virajpet, Davanagere, Chikmagalur and Shimoga. It is expected to be operated on various intrastate and interstate routes out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). OlectraAiravat ClassLaunched in 2003, It is an AC luxury bus service with 45 reclining semi-sleeper seats (2+2) built on a bi-axle Volvo B7R (Old) or Volvo B8R (New) chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). VolvoAiravat Club ClassLaunched in 2012, It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining semi-sleeper seats (53 seats on the 13.8 m Volvo model) built on a multi-axle Volvo B9R (Old) or Volvo B11R (New), Scania and Mercedes-Benz 0 500 R 1830 chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Volvo Scania Mercedes-BenzAiravat Club Class 2.0Launched in 2024, It is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats using Volvo 9600 multi-axle semi-sleeper buses with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). VolvoFlybusIt is an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with a restroom (chemical toilet) and GPS connectivity, built on a multi-axle Volvo B9R (Old) or Volvo B11R (New) chassis with a golden livery. It is a service connecting Kempegowda International Airport to Davangere, Mysore, Madikeri and Kundapura.AC Sleeper ClassLaunched in 2024, it is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on a bi-axle Tata Imac chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).TataAmbaari ClassIt is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on a bi-axle Corona chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). CoronaAmbaari Dream ClassIt is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats built on a multi-axle Volvo B11R chassis with a white livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). VolvoAmbaari Utsav ClassIt is an AC luxury bus service with 2+1 lower and upper berth sleeper seats on a Volvo 9600 multi-axle sleeper with a light-blue livery. It is a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka).
Former services +Name of the ServiceDescriptionManufacturerGalleryAC Nagara SarigeIt was an AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seats built on multi-axle Volvo urban chassis with various liveries depending upon the locale. It was an intracity and town service in Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka) except for Bangalore. Bangalore Metropolitan Region is served by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation in the name of Vajra Bus service. VolvoMeghdooth ClassIt was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a dark blue-white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was replaced with Sheethal Class. Ashok LeylandSheethal ClassIt was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a green livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was replaced with Airavat Class and was rebranded and merged with other classes like Karnataka Sarige and Rajahamsa Executive Class.Vaibhav ClassIt was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with less reclining compared to Rajahamsa Executive Class built on a single-axle Ashok Leyland and Tata chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct. Ashok Leyland Tata Motors Airavat Bliss ClassIt was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with chemical toilets, Wi-Fi, pantry and individual TV screens built on a multi-axle Volvo chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct. VolvoAiravat Superia ClassIt was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats with chemical toilets, Wi-Fi, and an auto hand wash system built on a multi-axle Volvo chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). Currently defunct.Airavat Diamond ClassIt was an AC luxury bus service with 2+2 reclining seats built on a multi-axle Scania chassis with a white livery. It was a long-distance service operating out of Dakshina Karnataka (Southern Karnataka). This service was rebranded and merged with Airavat Club Class. Scania
Welfares and Schemes 'Shakti Scheme' Free Bus Service for women 'Shakti Scheme' was announced by the Second Siddaramaiah ministry on 2 June 2023. It started on 11 June 2023, providing free-of-charge bus service to Karnataka-domiciled women. Beneficiaries show their government-issued photo identity and address proof for the first three months. Bus conductors issue them zero-fare tickets. Thereafter, beneficiaries obtain Shakti smartcards (named after the name of the scheme) through an application submitted via the government's Seva Sindhu website .
Terms and conditions of the scheme The scheme will apply to all four Road Transport Corporations in the state (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC). Nagara Sarige, Gramantara Sarige, Karnataka Sarige, Ashwamedha Classic Class, Vayavya Nagara Sarige, Vayavya Gramantara Sarige, Vayavya Karnataka Sarige, Kalyana Nagara Sarige, Kalyana Gramantara Sarige, Kalyana Karnataka Sarige, Bengaluru Sarige, Samparka and Astra services will be part of the scheme.