KSRTC’s City Ride, Nagarakazhchakal, has emerged as a popular evening attraction in the capital, offering residents as well as tourists an evening ride through the city’s prominent landmarks. The guided trips are operated on open-top double-decker buses offering an elevated view of key landmarks.
The rides, between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. at hourly intervals, start from East Fort, covering Palayam, Museum, Kanakakkunnu, Vellayambalam, Kowdiar, Pattoor, Chakkai, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, BrahMos Aerospace, Shanghumughom, LuLu Mall, and various other prominent landmarks. Depending on traffic conditions, route change is undertaken at times. On some trips, the stretch leading to Akkulam is skipped due to congestion, as directed by the police.
The ride involves a live commentary by a crew member who acts as a guide, providing information on prominent landmarks and their historical significance. Passengers are often warned by the crew about low-hanging tree branches and overhead electric lines. However, at various locations, low-hanging branches do brush against the bus, posing safety concerns, said a traveller on Sunday.
Passengers booking the ride during the New Year season can witness festive lighting along the Kanakakkunnu Palace stretch, while the nearby CSI Mateer Memorial Church is adorned with thousands of stars. However, the Kanakakkunnu stretch is usually crowded, with slow-moving traffic.
Depending on the timing, passengers can often witness aircraft take-offs along the airport stretch. The driver briefly halts at a point where passengers can clearly view the take-off. As directed by the airport authorities, the passengers are asked by the crew not to take any photographs.
Crew member Tinu Chithran on the 9 p.m. trip on Sunday (December 27) said that it was advisable to pre-book tickets, as seats on the upper deck are almost always fully booked. Otherwise, passengers would have to settle for seats on the lower deck if available. “Tickets can be pre-booked up to one month in advance,” he said.
Ticket fares are ₹100 for the lower deck and ₹200 for the upper deck. A WhatsApp message is received 15 minutes prior to the trip, with the details of the crew and a link to track the bus. Each journey takes around one and a half hours and may vary slightly depending on the traffic. Two electric buses are assigned for this service. Tickets can be booked online through the KSRTC Swift website.
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