The baby who became the face of KSRTC’s Airavat Club Class buses

The photograph that now defines Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s Airavat Club Class service was taken nearly two decades ago by commercial photographer Senthil Kumar Muruganandhan. While working on a routine assignment, he captured a candid moment of a baby asleep in a stroller, the child’s tiny hand curled around a soft blanket. The image, composed with natural light and a simple background, resonated with the agency’s desire to convey comfort and safety for long-distance travelers. Muruganandhan later submitted the picture to KSRTC’s marketing team, where it was selected for its universal appeal.

Since its adoption, the baby’s smiling visage has been printed on the exterior of Airavat Club Class buses that ply routes across Karnataka and into neighboring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Passengers often remark that the picture adds a friendly, family-oriented touch to the otherwise sleek, premium interior of the buses. The branding campaign has been credited with boosting the service’s visibility, helping the corporation differentiate its luxury offering from standard state-run buses. Over the years, the image has become a familiar sight on highways, reinforcing the notion that the journey itself can be as comforting as the destination.

The longevity of the photograph speaks to the power of simple, relatable imagery in public transport marketing. Even as KSRTC explores digital signage and newer design elements, the agency has chosen to retain the original baby picture, citing its strong connection with commuters. Recent surveys indicate that travelers associate the image with reliability and a sense of care, attributes that the corporation aims to uphold. As the state continues to invest in modernizing its fleet, the enduring photograph serves as a reminder that effective branding can transcend changing technologies and passenger expectations.