Kochi, India – The Luxury Bus Owners Association announced on Sunday that all interstate tourist bus services operating between Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu will be suspended starting Monday at 6 p.m.
In a statement, the association’s Kerala State Committee said the decision comes in response to what it described as “unlawful taxes and harassment” by transport authorities in neighbouring states.
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Association State President A.J. Rijas said that Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have recently started imposing heavy fines, levying arbitrary state-level taxes, and seizing buses operated under valid All India Tourist Permits (AITP) issued by the central government.
General Secretary Maneesh Sasidharan added that Kerala operators with valid AITPs under the Motor Vehicles Act are being detained and fined without justification. “Despite valid central permits, our vehicles are being stopped and penalised as if they are operating illegally,” he said.
The association noted that Tamil Nadu authorities have been collecting taxes from Kerala-registered vehicles for over a year, causing repeated financial losses and inconvenience to both operators and passengers. “Kerala has refrained from retaliatory measures so far, hoping for a cooperative resolution,” the statement said.
Citing growing fears among bus operators over vehicle seizure and financial losses, the association clarified that the suspension of services is not a voluntary protest but a “compelled decision” to ensure the safety of vehicles, drivers, and passengers.
The association has urged 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 ensure uniform implementation of the All India Tourist Permit framework across southern states.
A formal letter has also been sent to Kerala Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar requesting urgent intervention. The association expressed hope that with timely involvement from both state and central authorities, the issue can be resolved amicably and normal interstate tourist operations can resume soon.
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