A fond farewell to the city’s Red Beauty buses

Mysuru: Mysuru's iconic ‘Red Beauty' Volvo buses have completed their final runs, closing a notable chapter in the city's public transport history. The KSRTC's Mysuru Urban Division has retired its entire fleet of 33 Volvo buses in line with the central govt's mandate to scrap commercial vehicles older than 15 years, as the Regional Transport Office can no longer issue fitness certificates for them.Introduced in 2011 under the JnNURM scheme, each bus cost about Rs 1.2 crore — nearly three times the cost of a regular city bus. Despite the low fuel efficiency of 2 to 2.5 km per litre, the buses gained popularity for their comfort and design. With red exteriors, air-conditioned interiors, and safety features such as anti-skid systems, they were widely used by IT professionals commuting to the IT belt and passengers travelling between Hebbal, Chamundi Hills, and other parts of the city.For many daily commuters, the retirement of the buses has been a nostalgic moment. KSRTC divisional controller (Mysuru Urban) Veeresh told TOI, "The functioning of Red Volvo buses was stopped in Jan this year, and as an alternate, we are operating ordinary buses. A total of 100 eco-friendly electric buses are planned to replace the retired Volvos by Sept or Oct 2027. A dedicated depot with high-capacity charging infrastructure is being developed at Banni Mantap, with CESC overseeing the electrical requirements."
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