Thiruvanthapuram: The Kerala Transport Minister, K B Ganesh Kumar, on Tuesday ordered a strict statewide crackdown against the use of illegal air horns in buses and other vehicles. 

The film star-turned-politician referred to them as a menace that endangers public safety and adds to noise pollution. He directed the Motor Vehicles Department of the State to launch a special enforcement drive from October 13 to 19 to seize and destroy air horns, which were already banned but still widely in use.

The Minister also ordered that the confiscated air horns be publicly displayed before the media and then crushed using a road roller. Instructions were given to officials to conduct checks in all districts, following which a detailed record of the number of air horns seized must be submitted.  Ganesh Kumar noted that private and stage carriage buses, in particular, use air horns, which cause noise pollution and pose safety risks to road users. "This practice has to end. We are taking decisive action to ensure compliance," Ganesh Kumar said.

This follows the incident in Kothamangalam last week, where a bus driver allegedly blared an air horn and drove into the bus stand at high speed during the Minister's speech, causing a commotion. The Minister ordered immediate action against the driver, resulting in the suspension of his driving licence and the cancellation of the vehicle's permit. His latest directives highlight a zero-tolerance approach to such violations.

According to the officials, the special drive will include surprise inspections at major transport hubs, highways and bus depots. The Motor Vehicles Department will coordinate with the police to ensure effective enforcement. The seizure will be followed by the immediate destruction of the horns on the spot to send a strong message to violators.  Officials have also warned that repeated violations could lead to the permanent cancellation of vehicle permits and licences.

In a recent incident, Ganesh Kumar was seen overtaking a state-owned transport bus after noticing plastic bottles left in front of the driver. After stopping the bus, he scolded the driver and the conductor because the orders stated that no plastic bottles should be seen in state-owned buses.
(With IANS inputs)