Kochi: 163 luxury buses booked for permit violations
Notices were served to two agencies for having no proper licence.
Kochi: As part of the ongoing ‘Operation Night Riders,’ the MVD has booked 163 luxury buses for permit violation and other offences during a state-wide drive conducted from Sunday night till Monday morning.
According to Joint Transport Commissioner Rajeev Puthalath, 158 of the 163 buses, including 21 of Kallada Travels, were booked for individual ticketing. “The squads have been tasked to verify whether the agency has obtained LAPT licence. The squads will also check whether goods other than the personal luggage of the passengers are transported,” he said.
Notices were served to two agencies for having no proper licence. Two goods vehicles were also booked for permit violation. The department has collected an amount of`Rs 4,81,000 as fine against the violations found in the vehicles.
Mr Puthalath said that the drive will continue in the coming days. “The special squad of the MVD Enforcement under ‘Safe Kerala’ project has been tasked to conduct the checks,” he said.
Meanwhile, a few inter-state luxury buses have stopped services in protest against the MVD’s surprise checks leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. However, according to officials, arrangements were being made to increase the number of Kerala RTC and KSRTC buses plying between Karnataka and Kerala.