Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has directed the State Transport Authority (STA) to review the existing uniform colour rule for tourist buses following complaints from the tourism and tourist transport sectors.
Operators have raised concerns that Kerala’s colour restrictions are different from those followed in other states. They have also pointed out that the Centre’s All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 do not prescribe a specific colour for tourist vehicles.
Kerala introduced the uniform colour requirement for contract carriage vehicles, including tourist buses, in 2021 under the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules. The regulation was brought in following directions from the Kerala High Court, with road safety cited as the primary consideration.
The Transport Department has now asked the STA to reassess the existing provision in light of the concerns raised by operators and developments in the national regulatory framework.
The STA will examine the issue and decide whether the existing colour requirement should be retained, modified or changed.
The Transport Department clarified that the State Transport Authority will take the final decision on the matter.
