Bengaluru, 10 August (H.S.): Malayalis living in Bengaluru are facing a severe travel crunch as they prepare to return to Kerala for Onam, with train tickets sold out and private bus and air fares rising sharply ahead of the festival season.

The shortage of affordable travel options has left many families worried that they may have to celebrate Onam away from their hometowns this year.

Train tickets on major routes from Bengaluru to Kerala were booked out months in advance. Reservations on regular services reportedly disappeared within minutes of becoming available, leaving a large number of passengers on waiting lists.

Although the Railways has announced special services, including a Hubballi-Kottayam train, passengers say these have done little to ease the pressure. Travellers have also complained that Third AC fares on some special trains are considerably higher than normal fares.

For those who failed to secure confirmed tickets, Tatkal and Premium Tatkal bookings, which open shortly before the journey, remain among the few options. However, intense demand means only a limited number of passengers are likely to succeed.

The situation on the roads is equally difficult. On normal days, fares on air-conditioned multi-axle sleeper buses between Bengaluru and Kochi generally range from ₹1,200 to ₹2,500. With the Onam rush approaching, private operators have substantially increased fares for peak travel days.

Premium operators are now charging between ₹3,000 and ₹5,900 for a single seat on some services. Even ordinary non-air-conditioned buses are offering tickets starting at more than ₹1,400.

The Kerala and Karnataka State road transport corporations are expected to operate additional services during the festival period. However, passengers fear that the number of extra seats will be insufficient to meet the huge demand, leaving thousands dependent on expensive private services for their journey home.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman