The Chennai to Bangalore bus still leaves from Koyambedu (CMBT), not Kilambakkam. SETC and Karnataka’s KSRTC run the government services, the road trip takes roughly six and a half to eight and a half hours, and the cheapest government seat on the 332-km run costs a little over ₹330.
The numbers
Search for a Chennai to Bangalore bus and you will see hundreds of options, most of them private sleepers. The government services are fewer but cheaper, and one fact confuses many travellers: when southbound buses shifted to Kilambakkam, Bengaluru buses stayed at Koyambedu.
This guide sets out where to board, what each government class costs, how private buses compare, and where you get off in Bengaluru. Fares below are worked out from official per-km rates; tolls and reservation charges are added when you book.
Where the Chennai to Bangalore bus leaves from
When the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus at Kilambakkam opened, the state moved buses heading south along GST Road there. Buses for the west did not move. DT Next’s travel guide for the October 2026 Aayudha Pooja holidays listed Kancheepuram, Vellore, Hosur and Bengaluru among the routes still operating from Koyambedu’s Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Bus Terminus. The TNSTC booking site likewise lists the new SETC Volvo service to Bengaluru as starting from “Chennai Dr PT MGR BS”, the Koyambedu terminus.
Private buses pick up elsewhere too; redBus lists Ashok Pillar, Anna Nagar, Avadi and Chennai Central among boarding points.
It’s often said all Chennai’s long-distance buses now leave from Kilambakkam.
The record shows Only the south-bound services shifted. Bengaluru, Hosur and Vellore buses still use Koyambedu, as the October 2026 holiday boarding list shows.
Government buses: SETC and KSRTC
SETC runs Tamil Nadu’s long-distance network. According to the Transport Department policy note for 2025-26, it has a fleet of 1,080 buses on 195 routes, 90 of them interstate, and runs ultra deluxe, AC seater, AC sleeper, seater-cum-sleeper and non-AC sleeper buses. Its newest Bengaluru buses are 15-metre Volvo 9600 coaches with 51 seats, part of a batch of 20 flagged off in December 2025 according to Volvo’s press release; the TNSTC site describes them as AC semi-sleepers.
Karnataka’s KSRTC also runs this route. Its redBus operator page lists Airavat Club Class, Ambaari Utsav AC sleeper, non-AC sleeper and Rajahamsa Executive buses from Chennai, with fares from ₹561 on 31 October 2026.
Tamil Nadu has not revised its bus fares since 29 January 2018, the policy note says, so its per-km rates are the lowest among the southern states it compares. The table turns those rates into rough fares for a 332-km trip. Interstate tickets also carry tolls and a reservation fee, so expect the booking site to show a little more.
| SETC class | Rate per km | Rough fare for 332 km |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra deluxe (non-AC seater) | 100 paise | about ₹332 |
| AC seater, lean / peak | 110 / 130 paise | about ₹365 / ₹432 |
| Non-AC sleeper, lean / peak | 135 / 155 paise | about ₹448 / ₹515 |
| AC sleeper, lean / peak | 180 / 200 paise | about ₹598 / ₹664 |
Source: Transport Department Policy Note 2025-26, mofussil fare table (paise per km, last revised 29.01.2018). Rough fare is rate multiplied by 332 km, before tolls and reservation fees.
Karnataka’s ultra deluxe rate of 168 paise a km is 68% higher than Tamil Nadu’s 100 paise, according to the 2025-26 policy note comparison table.
Private sleepers and how to book
Private operators dominate the timetable. On 31 October 2026, redBus listed 311 daily services on this route for a weekday, with fares ranging from about ₹330 to ₹6,000 and departures spread from just after midnight to just before midnight. The highest prices are for AC sleepers on Friday and Sunday nights and festival weekends.
SETC seats can be booked up to 90 days ahead on the TNSTC site or app, the policy note says. The site also takes bookings over WhatsApp on 9444018898 and lists a toll-free reservation line, 7825812626. A “Single Lady” option appears in the search form, and SETC reserves four seats per bus for women. On a private bus, check the cancellation terms before paying.
Journey time and the road
Operators listed journey times from 6 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 35 minutes on redBus, with an average just over seven hours. Buses run west on the Bengaluru highway through Poonamallee, Sriperumbudur, Walajapet, Vellore, Ambur, Vaniyambadi and Krishnagiri, then cross into Karnataka at Hosur.
Getting to Koyambedu and arriving in Bengaluru
Koyambedu has two metro stations, Koyambedu and the CMBT station, which makes it the easiest of Chennai’s terminals to reach without a car. From north Chennai, MTC route 170ACT runs 17.7 km from Madhavaram to CMBT via Thirumangalam, with a bus about every 30 minutes according to the route data (frequencies are averages and may be dated; check live timings first).
In Bengaluru, KSRTC’s main terminal is the Majestic (Kempegowda) bus station, according to its redBus page. During festival rushes, KSRTC has run its Tamil Nadu services from Shanthinagar bus station, as Deccan Herald reported for one Ganesha festival. Private buses drop along the way in at areas such as Bommasandra, Bommanahalli, BTM Layout and Anand Rao Circle, so pick the drop point closest to where you are going. SETC tickets name the terminating stop at booking.
What this means for you
- Go to Koyambedu, not Kilambakkam, for a government bus to Bengaluru.
- For the lowest fare, pick an SETC ultra deluxe seat; the rate is ₹1 a km before tolls.
- Book SETC up to 90 days ahead; Friday-night and festival seats go first.
- On a private bus, choose a drop point in Bengaluru near your destination to save a long cab ride.
Quick answers
Which bus stand in Chennai has buses to Bangalore?
Koyambedu (CMBT). Government buses to Bengaluru did not move to Kilambakkam. Private buses also pick up at points such as Ashok Pillar, Anna Nagar and Avadi.
How much is the bus fare from Chennai to Bangalore?
On Tamil Nadu’s official rates, an SETC ultra deluxe seat works out near ₹332 before tolls and fees. redBus listed weekday fares from about ₹330 to ₹6,000 on 31 October 2026, with KSRTC from ₹561.
How long does the Chennai to Bangalore bus take?
Operators list 6 hours 30 minutes to about 8 hours 35 minutes, depending on the bus and traffic at Hosur and in Bengaluru.
Where does the Chennai bus stop in Bangalore?
KSRTC’s main terminal is Majestic (Kempegowda). Festival specials have used Shanthinagar. Private buses drop at several points, including Bommasandra and BTM Layout.
Can I book SETC Chennai to Bangalore tickets online?
Yes, on the TNSTC booking site or app, up to 90 days ahead, or on WhatsApp at 9444018898.
What to watch
Pending: fare revision
Tamil Nadu’s government fares have been unchanged since January 2018, per the policy note. Any revision would change every figure in the table above.
Pending: Pongal 2027 specials
Special buses are usually announced a few weeks before Pongal. Watch whether Bengaluru specials again run from Koyambedu.
Checked against official sources on 31 October 2026. Timings and fares change; confirm on the operator’s booking site before you travel.
Sources
- Demand No. 48, Transport Department Policy Note 2025-26 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- TNSTC/SETC online reservation home page (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations)
- KSRTC online reservation home page (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation)
- Volvo 9600 coaches flagged off by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Volvo Buses India press release, December 2025
- Route 170ACT: Madhavaram B.S. to C.M.B.T., MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Chennai to Bangalore bus route page (redBus), viewed 31 October 2026
- KSRTC (Karnataka) operator page (redBus), viewed 31 October 2026
- Aayudha Pooja holidays travel guide: special buses, boarding points and routes (DT Next, 16 October 2026)
- Special KSRTC buses to clear festival rush (Deccan Herald)
