The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) announced plans to add 644 new BS-VI diesel buses. These include 500 regular buses and 144 double-door mofussil buses. Most will operate on rural routes where public transport is limited. An official said, “We have planned to induct 644 buses, which will ply between key areas in the State. Most of them will be deployed in rural areas where demand has increased sharply.” Since June 2023, passenger demand has risen due to the Shakti scheme, offering free bus travel for women on non-premium State buses. While this improved mobility, it also added pressure to the existing fleet, especially in mofussil and rural services. Karnataka’s state transport undertakings currently run 26,028 buses. KSRTC manages 8,759 buses, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has 7,051, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) runs 5,289, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) operates 4,929 buses. KSRTC has steadily boosted its fleet, adding 1,288 buses between 2023-24 and 2025-26. It has also ordered 70 new non-AC sleeper buses, expected by March 2026. The official added, “These additions were planned after the introduction of the Shakti scheme to improve bus facilities and meet the surge in passenger demand. Strengthening rural connectivity remains a key priority for the corporation.”