Travel Guides & Articles
Travel costs surge, Keralites struggle to reach home | Kochi News

Kochi: It’s the same old story every festive season. Keralites living in different parts of the country, especially in metro cities of neighbouring states, are again forced to spend heavily to travel home for Onam festivities. With bus, train and airfares shooting up amid the festive rush, last minute measures announced by the authorities have done little to meet the demand or bring relief to passengers.Train tickets for the first week of Sept were sold out over a month ago, within hours of opening on the IRCTC portal. “The travel demand to Kerala via air and road surged significantly. Railways announced a special train from Bengaluru to Mangaluru via Malabar but the demand remains extremely high,” said Jaijo Jose of Kerala Samajam, Bengaluru. He pointed out that last-minute announcements of special trains can hardly ease the pressure.The special train announced on Friday, from Bengaluru to Mangaluru, will leave at 2pm on Sunday. The ticket rate for interstate private buses has more than doubled for the last week of Aug and first week of Sept. “For Bengaluru-Kochi sector, the fare for an AC sleeper bus is now around Rs 3,000, even though the number of private buses on this route has been increased,” said V T Thomas, an active worker of Kerala Samajam in Bengaluru and a travel agency operator.In view of Onam, Kerala RTC announced special services from Bengaluru and Chennai to various destinations in the state. However, passengers said the services were insufficient to control the steep hike by private operators. “Travel costs doubled for both air and bus services. The additional trains are not enough either. I’m still unsure about my travel plans,” said Naveen Dev, a Keralite automobile entrepreneur in Bengaluru.Ajith A, assistant transport officer of Kerala RTC, admitted that demand far outstripped supply. “Tickets for the existing services are already booked out for next week. We will announce the schedule of special services by Sunday, mainly focusing on the Bengaluru-Kochi route,” he said.Karnataka RTC also announced 90 additional services to Kerala from Sept 2 to 4. The special services will operate from Bengaluru’s Mysuru Road and Shantinagar bus stations to Kannur, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram. Return services from various locations in Kerala to Bengaluru will run on Sept 7.Airfares too skyrocketed for the festive period. A Delhi-Kochi ticket now costs between Rs 9,000 and Rs 14,000. Bengaluru-Kochi fares surged from Rs 3,000 to nearly Rs 10,000, while Chennai-Kochi tickets are hovering around Rs 7,000. Mumbai-Kochi flights during this period are priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000.Info BoxTicket Prices Due To RushFlightBangalore-Kochi — 9,000-15,000 Bangalore-TVM — 15,000-18,000 Chennai-Kochi — 7,000-12,000 Chennai-TVM — 9,000-15,000Private BusBangalore-Kochi — 3,000-4,000 Bangalore-TVM — 4,000-4,500Chennai-Kochi — 3,000-4,000 Chennai-TVM — 3,000-4,000
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Your Ganpati Visarjan Travel Guide: Mumbai Police Release Full List Of Traffic Diversions And Alternate Routes | India News

As Ganpati Visarjan festivities are going to be organized throughout Mumbai today, the traffic police in the city have released an exhaustive advisory announcing diversions, alternative routes, and restrictions on traffic movement. Travelers are requested to make advance travel plans so as to avoid inconvenience.
Traffic Restrictions and No-Parking Zones
Some roads in Central Mumbai and the Western Suburbs will be impacted by the celebrations. The movement of goods vehicles is strictly banned on major roads to enable a smooth flow of pedestrian and festival traffic.
Central Mumbai:
- Worli: Dr. Annie Besant Road and RG Thandani Road: No parking.
- Dadar: Goods vehicles are prohibited on Gokhale Road, SK Bole Road, and Swatantravir Savarkar Marg. Parking stands prohibited on Swatantravir Savarkar Marg, MB Raut Marg, and Shivaji Park Road No. 5.
- Mahim: Goods vehicles are prohibited on Gen AK Vaidya Marg, LJ Road, Mori Road, and TH Katariya Marg.
- Matunga: Goods vehicles are prohibited on Tilak Bridge Road, and parking stands prohibited on Dr. BA Road.
- Kurla: Goods vehicles are banned on LBS Road, New Mill Road, and KK Krishna Menon Road.
In view of Anant Chaturdashi & Ganpati Visarjan following traffic arrangements will be in place in Central Mumbai.
Citizens are requested to plan their commute accordingly.#MTPTrafficUpdateshttps://t.co/gnNcQDYW0d
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) September 5, 2025
Western Suburbs:
Santacruz: Goods vehicles are banned on Devle Road and Vaikunthalal Mehta Marg. Parking is restricted on Janardhan Mahtre Road and Juhu Road, among others.
In view of Anant Chaturdashi & Ganpati Visarjan following traffic arrangements will be in place in Western Suburbs of Mumbai.
Citizens are requested to plan their commute accordingly.#MTPTrafficUpdates https://t.co/SY0R0p9e8z
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) September 5, 2025
DN Nagar & Goregaon: No-parking zones are in force on a number of important roads, such as JP Road and MG Road.
Kandivali: Goods vehicles are banned on KT Son Marg, Kalpana Chawla Chowk, and Abdul Hamid Road. MG Road and SV Road have no-parking zones.
Suggested Alternate Routes
To relieve congestion, the Mumbai Traffic Police have provided alternative routes to commuters. Motorists can travel via routes like Gold Spot Junction (Bisleri Junction) to Bahar Junction and Shivaji Chowk to Captain Gore Bridge (Parle Bridge) as effective alternates to travel within the city.
ALSO READ | Mumbai Bomb Threat Suspect Arrested In Noida, Police Thwart Ganesh Festival Scare
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Samsonite Launches Paralux™ Collection Worldwide | News

Samsonite, the iconic and trusted leader in travel gear headquartered in Luxembourg City, LU, and Massachusetts, USA, unveils the Paralux Collection, hardside luggage and bags thoughtfully engineered for travelers who value design, efficiency, and sustainability. Merging exceptional organization with sustainable innovation, the Paralux collection perfects the art of packing, redefining what it means to pack with purpose.
“Paralux is more than a collection—it’s a reflection of our global team’s shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of what travel gear can be. This launch represents the best of Samsonite: pioneering design, sustainable innovation, and a deep understanding of how people move through the world. We’re proud to deliver a system that not only meets today’s travel demands but also honors our responsibility to the planet we all share.” said Kyle Gendreau, CEO of Samsonite Group.
Building on Samsonite’s legacy of durability and innovation, Paralux products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet the highest standards– so they’re built to last. The Paralux collection is crafted with more sustainable materials and designed to reduce the impact on the planet we all like to explore. The exterior shells are made with at least 50% post-consumer recycled polypropylene, trolley tubes with 100% recycled aluminum, and all fabrics, zipper tape, and linings across the collection feature 100% recycled PET plastic by weight. To further extend the product life, the wheels and pull-handle are designed for easy repairability by the user. These design innovations allow users to easily remove and replace the wheels themselves, instead of sending the product into a repair center. The features and construction of the collection resulted in the Paralux collection being bestowed the honor of two Red Dot awards, Sustainability Design and overall Design. The Red Dot is the distinction for high design and quality. Only products that demonstrate outstanding design are awarded the coveted seal of quality by the international jury. The Red Dot “Sustainability Design” award is for products being durable, adaptable, produced in a material- and energy-efficient manner, or made from renewable and recyclable resources.
At the heart of the Paralux collection is the Samsonite groundbreaking dual-access design, allowing travelers to open their suitcase from the traditional center split or via a sleek front door giving access to the entire interior, ideal when space is tight or time is short. Included removable packing cubes offering modularity for a more customized packing experience, while TSA-approved locks, double suspension wheels, and right-height adjustable handles ensure security and ease.
Whether navigating your daily commute with the Everyday Backpack, embarking on a weekend escape with the Duffel, or traveling internationally with the Hardside Large Spinner, the Paralux collection is designed to adapt to every journey. Thoughtfully engineered with modular compartments, discreet storage, and innovative features—such as the 2-in-1 Backpack that separates into a main travel bag and a compact Go Bag, the Paralux collection offers unparalleled versatility.
From impromptu getaways to business trips, the Paralux collection transcends traditional luggage, serving as a smart, stylish travel system built for modern mobility. Every piece is designed to work together—backpacks and duffels stack seamlessly on spinners for effortless travel, while modular compartments and coordinated dimensions offer a streamlined packing experience from door to destination. The collection features a full range of styles including Large, Medium, Global, and Domestic Carry-Ons, as well as travel backpacks and duffels, all available in a refined palette of Black, Stone Grey, Olive, and Midnight Navy. Prices range from $170 to $390 and are now available at www.samsonite.com and select retailers globally. The campaign will be launched worldwide with activation across out-of-home, paid social, influencers, owned retail, eCommerce, and wholesale. It’s not just a bag, it’s a Samsonite.
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