Kerala Tourist Bus Services Suspension Amid Disputes with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Authorities

Kerala’s Luxury Bus Owners Association has announced the suspension of all interstate tourist bus services from Kerala to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, effective 6 pm on Monday. The move comes amid repeated harassment of Kerala-registered buses, despite holding valid All India Tourist Permits (AITP) issued under the Central Government’s Motor Vehicles Act.

AJ Rijas, State President of the association, said the suspension became necessary after Tamil Nadu and Karnataka authorities began imposing heavy fines, unlawful state-level taxes, and seizing Kerala-operated AITP buses. “For over a year, Tamil Nadu authorities have arbitrarily collected taxes from Kerala-registered vehicles, causing significant financial loss and operational disruption,” he stated.

General Secretary Maneesh Sasidharan added that interstate buses are being stopped, fined, and detained despite compliance with central regulations, forcing operators to reconsider the safety and viability of running interstate tourist services.

The association emphasized that this Kerala tourist bus services suspension is not a voluntary strike but a compelled action to safeguard vehicles, drivers, and passengers. Many operators now fear running interstate routes due to potential financial penalties and vehicle seizures.

The Luxury Bus Owners Association has formally requested the Kerala Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar and the Transport Commissioner to intervene with both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments, as well as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to ensure uniform implementation of the AITP framework across southern states.

“With timely intervention from the Kerala government and central authorities, we believe normal interstate tourist operations can resume safely and without further harassment,” the association added.

This suspension highlights ongoing challenges faced by interstate transport operators and underscores the urgent need for cooperative regulation between southern states to ensure seamless tourist mobility.