GOVT, PUBLIC TRANSPORT MUST LEARN TO CO-EXIST

IN a notification issued in April, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways relaxed National Permit Rules and granted All India Tourist Permit (AITP) to private contract carriages.

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Vehicle owners can register buses in the state of their choice but can operate anywhere in the country. Some provisions also allow private vehicles with AITP to operate like state carriages. Private operators welcomed the move, and several vehicles with AITP are already operating services in Kerala.

However, the state government is up in arms against the new notification as the entry of private players will not only lead to a huge revenue loss for the state-run KSRTC but also affect tax collection. The government says the notification contradicts the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act and has no legal standing.