The Luxury Bus Owners Association announced on Sunday that it will be suspending all interstate services running from Kerala into Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In a statement, the Luxury Bus Owners Association, Kerala State Committee, confirmed that interstate tourist bus services from Kerala to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will cease operation from 6 PM on Monday.
The Association's State President, AJ Rijas, explained that the decision was taken because neighbouring states have begun imposing heavy fines, levying unlawful state-level taxes, and seizing All India Tourist Permit (AITP) buses belonging to Kerala-based operators.
General Secretary Maneesh Sasidharan stated that despite possessing valid AITPs issued under the Central Government’s Motor Vehicles Act, tourist vehicles registered in Kerala are being routinely stopped, fined, and detained in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
“For over a year, authorities in Tamil Nadu have been arbitrarily collecting tax from Kerala-registered vehicles, leading to repeated harassment for both operators and passengers. Throughout this period, the Kerala government adopted a very sympathetic and supportive stance, refraining from taking retaliatory action in the hope of reaching a cooperative resolution,” the association noted.
The operators added that many are now fearful of running interstate services due to the threat of substantial financial loss and vehicle seizure.
The association clarified that this suspension of services is not a voluntary protest but an enforced action taken to ensure the safety of their vehicles, drivers, and passengers.
The group has formally requested the Kerala Transport Minister and the Transport Commissioner to intervene immediately with the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to halt these unlawful practices and guarantee the uniform implementation of the AITP framework across all southern states.
The association has also sent a letter outlining the issue to Kerala Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar.
“With timely intervention from the Kerala government and the central authorities, the issue can be resolved amicably, and normal interstate tourist operations can resume shortly,” the association concluded.
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