The Luxury Bus Owners Association on Sunday announced the suspension of all interstate tourist bus services between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, citing harassment, arbitrary fines, and unlawful taxation by neighbouring states.
According to a statement issued by the association’s Kerala State Committee, operations of tourist buses from Kerala to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will be halted from Monday at 6 p.m., following what it called an “unjust crackdown” on Kerala-registered vehicles.
Bus operators allege harassment and illegal fines
Association State President A.J. Rijas said the decision was unavoidable after authorities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka began levying heavy penalties and unlawful state-level taxes on Kerala vehicles holding valid All India Tourist Permits (AITPs).
He alleged that even though these permits are issued under the Central Government’s Motor Vehicles Act, tourist buses from Kerala are being fined, stopped, and seized without valid grounds.
“Neighbouring states have been collecting arbitrary taxes and imposing unreasonable penalties on Kerala’s tourist buses. Several vehicles have been detained, and operators are facing serious financial losses,” said Rijas.
Central permits ignored by state authorities
General Secretary Maneesh Sasidharan pointed out that vehicles operating with valid AITPs are being unlawfully detained, even though the permits allow travel across state borders.
“For over a year, Tamil Nadu authorities have been collecting tax arbitrarily from Kerala-registered vehicles, causing repeated harassment to operators and passengers,” Sasidharan said.
He added that the Kerala government had adopted a “sympathetic and cooperative stance,” avoiding any retaliatory actions in the hope that the issue would be resolved amicably through dialogue. However, the continued harassment has forced operators to take drastic measures.
Safety concerns for passengers and operators
The association clarified that this is not a protest or strike, but a compelled suspension of service to protect the safety of vehicles, drivers, and passengers.
“Many of our members are afraid to operate due to the constant threat of financial loss and vehicle seizure. The decision to suspend services was taken purely out of compulsion,” the association said in its statement.
The suspension is expected to disrupt travel plans for thousands of passengers who frequently commute between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka for work, tourism, and business.
Possible impact and government response
The move is likely to have an immediate impact on interstate tourism and private bus connectivity, especially between cities like Kochi, Bengaluru, and Chennai, which rely heavily on private tourist coaches.
Industry insiders say that unless the issue is swiftly resolved, it could also affect tour operators, hotels, and travel agencies that depend on luxury buses for long-distance group travel.
Officials from Kerala’s Transport Department have yet to announce whether discussions with their Tamil Nadu and Karnataka counterparts are planned to address the matter.
Conclusion
As of now, the suspension remains in effect from Monday evening, with no fixed timeline for resumption. The Luxury Bus Owners Association has urged both the state governments and the Centre to intervene and ensure fair treatment of Kerala-registered vehicles operating under national permits.