There is a civic legend that Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Bus Station was built on the drained bed of Dharmambudhi Lake — a medieval water body that existed near the city’s center since 1247 AD during the Hoysala period. The lake was drained and filled over decades to make way for the urban expansion that a growing mid-20th century Bengaluru demanded, and the bus station that rose on that former lakebed in 1969 has served as the city’s primary intercity and intracity transit hub for 56 years. That origin story matters because the station’s expansion challenges today are in part environmental karma — the drained lake left little room to grow, and the terminal that serves 80,000 KSRTC intercity passengers and 5 lakh BMTC city bus passengers daily across 11,150 buses is now slated for the most significant redevelopment in its history.
Kempegowda Bus Station — universally called KBS or Majestic — is located opposite KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station on Gubbi Thotadappa Road and Tank Bund Road, at the intersection of Seshadri Road and Danavanthri Road. Ten state transport corporations operate from here: KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC, APSRTC, TGSRTC, MSRTC, TNSTC, SETC, and KTC, making it India’s most multi-operator large bus terminal. The Karnataka Budget 2025-26 announced a ₹1,500 crore PPP redevelopment of the entire 32-acre complex — both KSRTC and BMTC stations to be demolished and rebuilt as a futuristic multimodal transit hub with commercial towers. KSRTC appointed Gurugram-based consultancy Resurgent India Ltd in November 2025 to study land use, traffic flow, and development modalities.
KSRTC Bus Station Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Kempegowda Bus Station (KBS) / Majestic Bus Station |
| Location | Tank Bund Road / Gubbi Thotadappa Road, Kempegowda, Sevashrama, Bengaluru — 560009 |
| Phone | 080 22952311 |
| Opened | 1969 (Intercity); 1980 (Intracity BMTC) |
| Daily KSRTC Passengers | Approx. 80,000 |
| Daily BMTC Passengers | Approx. 5 lakh |
| Total Buses Daily | 11,150 |
| State Operators | KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC, APSRTC, TGSRTC, MSRTC, TNSTC, SETC, KTC |
| Metro Station | Nadaprabhu Kempegowda (Green Line + Purple Line interchange) |
| Nearest Railway Station | KSR Bengaluru City Station — directly opposite |
| Key Routes | Mysuru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Goa, Mumbai, Mangaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Hassan |
| Airport Buses | BMTC Vayu Vajra — KBS to KIA every 30 min, 24/7, ₹310 |
| Redevelopment Plan | ₹1,500 crore PPP redevelopment announced Karnataka Budget 2025-26; consultancy underway |
| Redevelopment Status | Planning stage — Resurgent India Ltd appointed Nov 2025 for consultancy |
| Distance from Airport | Approx. 40 km |
Location
KBS occupies the Kempegowda/Majestic area on the former Dharmambudhi lakebed — bordered by Seshadri Road to the north, Danavanthri Road to the east, Tank Bund Road to the south, and Gubbi Thotadappa Road to the west. KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station is directly opposite, and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station handles the Purple and Green Lines underground. The name Majestic derives from a popular cinema theatre that once stood near the station — the cinema is long gone but the name has outlasted every subsequent renaming attempt.
Directions
From KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station: Walk directly opposite — 100 to 200 metres at most. The two are face to face across the same road.
From Bengaluru Airport (KIA): BMTC Vayu Vajra airport bus from KBS every 30 minutes, 24/7, ₹310, approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Alternatively, Namma Metro from Kempegowda station toward the airport-side corridors.
From MG Road: Travel westward by Namma Metro (Green Line) from MG Road to Kempegowda Station — three stops, approximately 7 minutes.
From Mysuru via road: KSRTC services cover approximately 145 kilometres in under 2 hours on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway inaugurated March 2023.
Connectivity
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station — a Purple and Green Line interchange underground — places KBS within Namma Metro’s comprehensive north-south and east-west grid. The upcoming Shivaji Nagara Station on the Pink Line under construction will add a third metro line to the zone. A proposed suburban rail interchange will further strengthen Majestic’s position as Bengaluru’s multimodal anchor. KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station handles trains to Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and all national destinations directly opposite the bus station.
Nearby Areas
Cubbon Park: Bengaluru’s beloved 300-acre green lung is within 1 to 2 kilometres — a natural counterpoint to the concrete and bus fumes of Majestic. NGMA Bengaluru: The National Gallery of Modern Art with its significant collection of Indian modern art is in the Kasturba Road zone accessible from Majestic. Vidhana Soudha: The magnificent Neo-Dravidian state legislature building — Bengaluru’s most powerful architectural statement — is adjacent to Cubbon Park and accessible by city bus from KBS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where is KSRTC Bus Station Bengaluru (KBS) located?
A: Tank Bund Road / Gubbi Thotadappa Road, Kempegowda / Majestic, Bengaluru — directly opposite KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station. Phone: 080 22952311.
Q2. How many passengers use KBS daily?
A: About 80,000 on KSRTC intercity, 5 lakh on BMTC city buses — total approximately 11,150 buses daily.
Q3. What is the ₹1,500 crore KBS redevelopment plan?
A: Both BMTC and KSRTC terminals on 32 acres will be demolished and rebuilt as a futuristic PPP transit and commercial hub. Announced in Karnataka Budget 2025-26 — consultancy underway, tenders expected second half of 2026.
Q4. How do I get to Bengaluru Airport from KBS?
A: BMTC Vayu Vajra airport bus every 30 minutes, 24/7, ₹310, taking approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Q5. Which metro serves KBS?
A: Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station — a Purple Line and Green Line interchange directly serving the bus station.