Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) reports a rise in passenger numbers on its Kasaragod–Mangaluru route following the introduction of a free bus passenger scheme. The measure is aimed at encouraging travel and improving access for riders who use the cross-border corridor between Kasaragod in Kerala and Mangaluru in Karnataka. Local reporting attributes the increased ridership to passengers taking advantage of the fare-free option on the specified route serviced by Kerala SRTC buses. The scheme is presented as a boost for the operator’s services along the busy interstate link, with the focus remaining on higher turnout and easier commuting for regular users. The coverage frames the development primarily as an operational and public-service outcome—more passengers boarding buses on that route—rather than highlighting any controversy or policy dispute. With multiple outlets describing the same improvement in ridership, the central point remains that free travel under the scheme is driving higher use of Kerala SRTC services between Kasaragod and Mangaluru.