In a significant development for students from the neighbouring Kasaragod district of Kerala, the Karnataka government has extended its free bus pass scheme to include them. A KSRTC official confirmed on Friday that the scheme now covers students from Kasaragod, with the existing process for obtaining passes remaining unchanged.
The official further stated that students who have already obtained bus passes will receive a full refund within 15 days, and existing passes issued for the current academic year will remain valid. KSRTC will issue separate guidelines for the refund process.
So far, from the Mangaluru division, which also includes Udupi district in its jurisdiction, 229 passes have been approved. Meanwhile, from the Puttur division, 1,223 passes have been approved. According to the new official notification from KSRTC, the scheme has been extended to cover students residing in Karnataka but studying in neighbouring states, as well as those living in border areas of neighbouring states and pursuing education in Karnataka.
In cases such as change of residence, damage to the pass, or reprinting, a processing fee of Rs 100 will be charged. The existing norms governing student bus pass issuance, including eligibility criteria related to education, distance limits, and validity period, will remain unchanged, the notification added. Students can continue to apply for free bus passes through the Seva Sindhu portal, either independently or through their respective educational institutions, and collect it from the issuing counters.
Under the KSRTC Mangaluru division, the passes will be issued at K-One centres located at Mangaluru City Corporation, Kunjibettu in Udupi, and Municipal Road in Kundapura.
Welcoming the development, Glawin Dsouza, a Bcom student from Permude, said that this will significantly reduce expenses for them and will help in connectivity. Franklin, a BCA student from Kayyar, said the move is very beneficial for students and urged Karnataka RTC to adjust timings in the morning.
Both Kasaragod and Dakshina Kannada have strong business links, and many students travel both ends daily. Many institutions in Mangaluru, Puttur and Sullia have students from Kasaragod.
