The Luxury Bus Owners Association on Sunday announced that all interstate services from Kerala to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be suspended from 6 pm on Monday. In a statement, the association’s Kerala State Committee said the decision follows heavy fines, unlawful state-level taxes, and vehicle seizures imposed by neighbouring states on buses with All India Tourist Permits (AITP).

Association president A J Rijas said the move was forced after repeated harassment of Kerala-registered vehicles, while general secretary Maneesh Sasidharan added that even buses with valid AITPs under the Central Motor Vehicles Act are being fined and detained in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

“For over a year, Tamil Nadu authorities have been collecting arbitrary taxes from Kerala-registered vehicles, causing repeated losses to operators and inconvenience to passengers. The Kerala government had refrained from retaliatory measures in the hope of a cooperative resolution,” the association said.

The association clarified that the suspension is not a protest but a safety measure for vehicles, drivers, and passengers. It has urged the Kerala Transport Minister and Transport Commissioner to intervene with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to ensure uniform implementation of the AITP framework.

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“With timely intervention from the Kerala government and central authorities, the issue can be resolved amicably, and normal services can resume soon,” the statement added.

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