Everything was set for the maiden trip of 'Midukki', touted as the first women-run private bus service in Idukki. The Motor Vehicles Department had other plans. Just hours before the service was set to begin, the MVD seized the bus on Sunday evening. What was supposed to be a memorable first trip has turned into a frustrating fistfight over rules. The bus owners have moved the High Court, challenging the seizure and hoping to win a favourable court order. 

"This wasn’t just a bus. It was about giving women a chance," said Neethu, co-owner of Midukki, the bus service that was set to operate on the Nedumkandam-Thiruvananthapuram route.  The issue, according to the authorities, was that the bus, operating under an All India Tourist Permit (AITP), was planning to operate like a stage carriage, a type of public transport that picks up and drops off passengers at fixed points along a route. A stage carriage permit is required for such operations, and the AITP is strictly for tourist vehicles, not regular public transport. It should have functioned in accordance with the conditions mandated for a contract carriage, officials said.

For Neethu and her family, the seizure of the bus was unjust. "Midukki was never meant to be a regular bus service," Neethu said. "It was intended to be a private service, and we wanted to offer something different, a safer option for women, especially during night travel."

The bus is owned by Ezhukumvayal Plathar Chacko Thomas, but the operation is managed by Neethu (his daughter-in-law), Jilu (his daughter), and a team of women, including drivers and staff. The goal was to create a dependable transport service in an area where public transport is often unreliable.

"We had received bookings, mostly from families who appreciated the idea of travelling with an all-women crew," Neethu said. "It was about providing comfort and security, something that is often lacking in regular services."

However, the MVD cited that the bus was planning to operate like a regular bus, picking up passengers at fixed points along the route and charging fares. Neethu disagrees, clarifying that it was a private service, not public transport. "We were clear about our intentions from the start," she says.

On Sunday, the Idukki RTO seized the bus just before it was set to depart. Idukki RTO PM Shabeer, explained that the bus lacked the necessary stage carriage permit. "The bus operated like a regular public transport service, setting fares and picking up passengers," he said. He also mentioned complaints from Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials, who raised concerns about the bus operating without the proper permits, particularly regarding its plans to pick up passengers at specific points along the route.

Neethu doesn't buy this argument. "We didn’t even get to start the journey," she says. "It was disappointing to have the bus taken away before we could begin."

Despite this, Neethu and her family are determined to continue their efforts. "This isn’t just about a bus service," she says. "It’s about offering a safe transport option and creating job opportunities for women."

For now, Midukki remains parked at the Nedumkandam Police Station, with its maiden journey still on hold. The Motor Vehicles Department has also filed charges at the Judicial Magistrate Court.