The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), over the years, has become tech-savvy and has come up with a variety of options for its customers to book tickets. Passengers can avoid going to ticket counters and wait in long queues for their turn as tickets can now be booked on the phone or online.

Innovations in KSRTC
E-tickets/M-tickets: Booking for KSRTC services can be made by registered user through internet. A registered user is given a user name and password after filling an e-form giving personal details. Online tickets can be booked 24/7. Payments for tickets will have to be made through credit card/debit card/online banking.

How to book?
A passenger booking tickets will have to log on to KSRTC website and proceed through the link provided for Advance Booking. The passenger can select the seats in a service of his choice based on availability. During the booking process, the passenger will have to select ‘Identity Type’ for confirming his identity during the journey. He can select from any of the photo identity cards, i.e., passport/driving licence/voter ID card/PAN card/ration card. The passenger travelling with e-ticket/m-ticket should carry any one of these photo identity cards during the journey.

Before confirming the booking, the passenger will have to give payment details like ‘Credit Card/Debit card/Online Banking’ for accepting payment by the payment gateway. The booking will be confirmed after the financial gateway approves the transaction. At this stage, a PNR number is generated for that ticket and the passenger can print the e-ticket on plain paper for acknowledgement and it will be valid for the journey. An m-ticket will also be sent to passenger during e-booking/m-booking through SMS and will be valid for the journey.

How to cancel tickets?
Tickets booked through e-booking/m-booking can be cancelled online only till the booking closes for the service or till the time allowed as per cancellation slab, whichever is earlier. Cancellation is allowed online only if they login with the same user ID used for booking the ticket. In respect of cancellations, refunds applicable will be made to the concerned credit/debit card/online banking account only.

E-ticket should be cancelled by user himself. E-mail requests for cancellations are considered. Such requests will be considered only when the ‘Awatar’ application is not functioning. Cancellation of e-tickets after stopping of advance booking for a service is also not allowed. If the service is cancelled by KSRTC (or other STUs) for operational reasons, refund will be made to the concerned card/online banking account only.

Discounts on e-tickets
Discounts are allowed for all tickets booked on internet. Senior citizen concession of 25% is allowed for residents of Karnataka up to Rajahamsa class of services. To avail concession, any one of the following ID proof has to be produced at the time of journey - senior citizen card issued by KSRTC, identification card issued by the Physically Challenged and Senior Citizens Welfare Directorate, driving licence, voter ID, passport, PAN card issued by the concerned authority. To avail this discount, only one seat should be booked in a transaction.

KSRTC web-based mobile online bus ticket booking
KSRTC has gone one step ahead to reach its passengers by introducing web-based mobile booking application. Now KSRTC has become the first state-run transport organization to introduce URL-based mobile booking application. There is no need to download or request any additional application to book the tickets from the mobile. Just access the URL "ksrtc.in/mobile" from a GPRS-enabled mobile and book your ticket within minutes. The registration for both e-booking and mobile user is one time, and the user need not register again to book or cancel the ticket through mobile. Passengers can also cancel their e-tickets through mobiles. All the terms and conditions of e-booking are applicable to mobile booking.