Mangaluru: Private bus fares surge ahead of Navaratri festival, Passengers face heavy costs

Team Udayavani, Oct 2, 2024, 10:37 AM IST

With the Navaratri festival approaching, private bus fares have skyrocketed, putting a strain on the pockets of travelers coming to Mangaluru from various distant locations. For those traveling from Bengaluru to Mangaluru, the fare in private buses has soared as high as Rs 3,500.

Hike in ticket prices during festivals has become a common trend. Previously, fares had also spiked during the Gauri-Ganapati festival, and now, similar price hikes are being observed for Navaratri.

Adding to the rush is the upcoming weekend, which has increased demand for bus travel from Bengaluru to different parts of Karnataka. Since October 10, ticket prices for some private buses have already surged, and this rise is expected to continue until after the festival.

Mangaluru Dasara typically draws large crowds from far and wide, with visitors coming to witness the festivities, especially at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple. This year, Mangaluru Dasara will be celebrated from October 3 to 14, with the grand Sharada Devi procession scheduled for October 13. With October 12 being a second Saturday and October 13 a Sunday, many people are expected to start their journey back home from cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru by October 11. Private bus operators have taken advantage of this high demand, tripling their fares.

Price Hikes for Various Routes:

On October 11, private buses from Bengaluru to Mangaluru are charging up to ₹3,500. Similarly, fares from Mangaluru to Mysuru are ₹1,200, to Ballari ₹950, to Bagalkote ₹1,500, to Koppal ₹2,600, and to Vijayapura ₹1,500. With several days remaining before the festival, these fares are expected to rise further. However, KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) has not yet increased its fares. Typically, KSRTC charges slightly more than the regular rates for additional buses operating during festivals.

Flight Fares See Minor Increase:

In comparison to bus fares, flight ticket prices have not seen a significant increase during the Navaratri period. Flights from Bengaluru to Mangaluru, which normally cost around ₹2,999, have risen slightly to ₹3,239 for October 11. Train fares remain unchanged, but most tickets are already booked, leaving many passengers on waiting lists.