Dasara rush: Karnataka, Andhra roll out over 8,000 special buses for October 15-26
Representative image: JoshuaWoroniecki / Pixabay
KSRTC plans 3,000+ Dasara specials from Bengaluru and APSRTC 5,261 services from October 16 to 25, 2026, the corporations said this week.
What Happened
State transport corporations in South India have announced thousands of extra buses for the Dasara festival rush, which peaks around Vijayadashami on October 21, 2026. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said it will run more than 3,000 special buses from Bengaluru to destinations across Karnataka and neighbouring states between October 16 and 20, with additional services back to Bengaluru on October 20 and 21. KSRTC also plans special services for Mysuru Dasara from October 15 to 26. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) plans 5,261 special services across the state from October 16 to 25, including 440 for Visakhapatnam. The Telangana corporation has also announced special Dasara services.
Key Facts
- KSRTC: more than 3,000 special buses from Bengaluru, October 16 to 20; return services to Bengaluru on October 20 and 21.
- KSRTC Mysuru: special buses for Mysuru Dasara from October 15 to 26; reports put the number at about 700, drawn from the Bengaluru division and nearby districts such as Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar, along with tour packages.
- APSRTC: 5,261 special services statewide from October 16 to 25, 2026.
- APSRTC split: 3,207 services from October 16 to 19 for outward travel, and 2,054 from October 20 to 25 for return journeys.
- APSRTC Visakhapatnam: 440 special services allocated.
- APSRTC says services may be adjusted according to demand, with extra buses added where needed.
- Telangana's corporation has also announced Dasara specials; travellers should check its official site for numbers and fares.
Why It Matters
The scale of these plans shows how heavy Dasara travel is in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as people working in cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam head to their home towns and visitors travel to Mysuru for its ten-day festival, which opened on October 11 and ends with the Jamboo Savari procession on October 21.
The timing of the extra services follows the shape of the rush: heavy outward travel in the days before Vijayadashami and a wave of return trips just after it. For travellers, the most important advice is to book early on the corporations' official websites or counters, since special buses often sell out on peak days, and to plan return journeys as carefully as outward ones.
Special services sometimes carry different fares from regular ones, so passengers should check the fare when booking. Those heading to Mysuru for the palace illuminations and the Jamboo Savari should also expect traffic restrictions and crowded roads on the final days of the festival.
| Corporation | Special services | Dates (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| KSRTC (from Bengaluru) | More than 3,000 | October 16 to 20; returns October 20 to 21 |
| KSRTC (Mysuru Dasara) | About 700 (reported) | October 15 to 26 |
| APSRTC (statewide) | 5,261 | October 16 to 25 |
Impact
Short-term: More seats for festival travellers on the busiest days, easing pressure on trains and private buses.
Long-term: Strong festive ridership helps state transport corporations' finances and shows where permanent capacity may be needed on busy routes.
Who is affected: Festival travellers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, visitors to Mysuru Dasara, bus crews and depot staff.
Key Takeaway
KSRTC and APSRTC are adding more than 8,000 special buses for Dasara 2026, mostly between October 16 and 21, so travellers should book early.
Questions and Answers
When will KSRTC run Dasara special buses from Bengaluru?
KSRTC will run more than 3,000 special buses from Bengaluru between October 16 and 20, 2026, with extra return services to Bengaluru on October 20 and 21.
How many Dasara special buses will APSRTC run?
APSRTC plans 5,261 special services from October 16 to 25, 2026: 3,207 from October 16 to 19 and 2,054 from October 20 to 25, including 440 for Visakhapatnam.
Are there special buses for Mysuru Dasara?
Yes. KSRTC plans special services for Mysuru from October 15 to 26, reported at about 700 buses, along with tour packages.
When is Vijayadashami in 2026?
Vijayadashami falls on October 21, 2026, the final day of Mysuru Dasara and the day of the Jamboo Savari procession.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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