Karnataka to resume interstate bus services to Kerala from Monday

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) would commence inter-state bus service to Kerala from Mangaluru, Puttur, Bengaluru, Mysuru, and other places from July 12.

As per the statement from a corporation official, the state has decided to resume bus service to cities across Kerala following the ease of restrictions in the state under unlock 3.0 since July 5.

Amid the pandemic's second wave since April, the state-run KSRTC had suspended oy inter-state bus services for over two months to contain the virus spread.

"Our services will resume from Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Puttur in the state to select places in Kerala under the standard operating procedure to ensure passengers follow the Covid appropriate behaviour," said the official.

In view of the higher number of Covid cases in the neighbouring state daily, the corporation has made a 72-hour negative test report mandatory for passengers coming into Karnataka from Kerala.

"Passengers who have received even one dose of the vaccine should carry its certificate before boarding our inter-state buses," said the official.

Students and others in Kerala visiting Karnataka daily for education, business and other reasons have to undergo RT-PCR test once in 15 days and possess a negative Covid test report.

Wearing a face mask, washing hands and maintaining physical distance have been made compulsory for inter-state travellers.

Advance tickets could be booked online at ksrtc.karnataka.gov.in or on www.ksrtc.in or through advance reservation counters of KSRTC/its franchisees.