Overview
- Kerala’s Luxury Bus Owners Association says tourist buses to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will stop from 6 p.m. on Monday, November 10.
- Operator groups report roughly 1,500 omnibuses across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Puducherry are staying off the roads.
- Associations allege heavy fines, additional state taxes and vehicle seizures in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka despite vehicles holding All India Tourist or omnibus permits.
- Leaders argue AITP rules exempt them from extra state taxes once permit fees are paid, noting they already pay home-state taxes and face rising fuel and toll costs.
- Operators have asked Kerala’s transport authorities and the central road ministry to step in, with Tamil Nadu representatives slated to meet the state transport minister in Chennai.