The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is a state-owned public institution, specifically a Road Transport Corporation, established to provide public bus transport services in Kerala. Its history began with the Travancore State Transport Department (TSTD), which was founded on February 20, 1938, by the erstwhile Travancore government under King Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma to reorganize the state's transport system. The TSTD was converted into the autonomous KSRTC on April 1, 1965, following a notification by the Government of Kerala on March 15, 1965.
The corporation operates under the framework of the central Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950, which was enacted to facilitate the development of efficient and coordinated road transport services and prevent exploitation by private operators. The Government of Kerala formulated the KSRTC rules in 1965 by utilizing Section 44 of this Act, which empowers state governments to establish such corporations. The Act outlines the structure, powers, and financial management of the corporation, ensuring it is accountable for its operations.
KSRTC is one of many State Road Transport Corporations (SRTCs) across India established under the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950. Recently, the corporation has undergone modernization, including the introduction of the 'Stop on Request' facility via the KSRTC Chalo App and a demand-based pricing software for long-distance bookings, announced in March 2026. Furthermore, the Kerala government has recently moved to extend the operational life of KSRTC buses to 20 years, exceeding the central 15-year limit for government vehicles.