Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)
Udupi, Dec 31: Tourists buses from Karnataka are not venturing into Kerala as strict rules are implemented in the state for tourist vehicles since two months.
According to rules in Kerala, tourist buses should be painted in white or yellowish white colour. However, 90% of the buses in Karnataka have their own colour. In addition, tourist buses of Karnataka have additional lights on the outer body. Flickering lights along with DJ music sound is causing accidents. That is why Kerala has come up with strict rules for tourist buses.
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The tourist bus operators of Karnataka are not taking any chances and they do not venture into Kerala. Some have made arrangements with buses in Kerala to take passengers from Kerala border to the destination. Some buses of Karnataka are already fined Rs 5,000 in Kerala.
Bus alteration market in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is hit hard by the new rules of Kerala state government. Most of the alterations on tourist buses is done in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as the equipment use for beautifying the vehicle is much cheaper in those states. However, with the new strict rule in Kerala, the bus alternation business has suffered huge losses.
In October 2022, five school children and nine others died on Valayar-Vadakancherry road while a tourist bus collided with a government bus. More than 20 were seriously injured. After this accident, Kerala government has taken strict action on tourist buses with colour coding and other rules.