Kerala Tourist Buses Suspend Interstate Services to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Due to Regulatory Disputes

The interstate tourist bus services from Kerala will be suspended starting Monday evening at 6 pm. (Representational)

Kochi:

The Luxury Bus Owners Association has announced the suspension of all interstate services connecting Kerala to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

According to a statement released by the Kerala State Committee of the Luxury Bus Owners Association, the interstate tourist bus services to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will cease operations from Monday at 6 pm.

State President AJ Rijas explained that this decision was necessitated by neighboring states imposing excessive fines, implementing unauthorized state-level taxes, and confiscating All India Tourist Permit (AITP) buses operated by Kerala companies.

General Secretary Maneesh Sasidharan highlighted that despite possessing valid AITPs issued under the Central Government's Motor Vehicles Act, tourist vehicles from Kerala are being stopped, penalized, and detained in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

"Tamil Nadu authorities have been arbitrarily collecting taxes from Kerala-registered vehicles for over a year, resulting in continuous harassment of operators and passengers. Throughout this period, the Kerala government maintained a supportive and sympathetic stance, avoiding retaliatory actions in hopes of achieving a cooperative solution," stated the association.

Many operators now fear running interstate services due to potential financial losses and vehicle seizures.

The association emphasized that this suspension is not a voluntary protest but a necessary measure taken to protect vehicles, drivers, and passengers.

They have requested immediate intervention from the Kerala Transport Minister and Transport Commissioner with the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to end these unlawful practices and ensure consistent implementation of the AITP framework across all southern states.

The association has also sent a formal letter to Kerala Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar requesting him to address this critical issue.

"With timely intervention from the Kerala government and central authorities, we believe this issue can be resolved amicably and normal interstate tourist operations can resume soon," the association concluded.