The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has commenced its open-top double-decker bus service in Kochi, offering a daily evening city tour from the Ernakulam bus stand. The service began on July 15, two days after it was officially flagged off.
The tour operates from 5pm to 8pm and covers a 29-km stretch through selected parts of the city. Tickets are priced at ₹300 for seats on the upper deck and ₹150 for the lower deck.
The double-decker has 39 open-top seats on the upper level and 24 seats in the closed lower deck. Seats are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis.
According to KSRTC officials, only one trip will be conducted each day, beginning and ending at the Ernakulam KSRTC bus station. The route has been fixed, and passengers will not be allowed to board or alight mid-way.
Apart from the scheduled city tour, the bus can be rented out by private groups or institutions. The rental rate is ₹15,300 per trip, and bookings can be made through KSRTC’s official website or by contacting 9447223212.
The bus will be available for hire during hours not overlapping with the 5pm–8pm daily tour. Officials said the service may be used for group travel, sightseeing, or private celebrations.
While no data on initial bookings has been shared, KSRTC sources indicated that public response will determine any changes in schedule or the possible addition of more buses. The service is currently being run by the KSRTC Budget Tourism Cell.
Whether the city tour becomes a permanent fixture or expands to other locations will depend on occupancy levels in the coming weeks.
