MVD relaxes restrictions on tourist buses, gives instructions to officials

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has relaxed the restrictions on tourist buses imposed after the Vadakanchery bus accident. Restrictions on tourist buses going on excursions from educational institutions have been relaxed.

In October 2022, nine people died in an accident in Vadakancherry when a tourist bus crashed into the back of a KSRTC bus. The incident took place around 12:30 a m near Palakkad Vadakkancheri Anchumoorthy Mangalam Kollathara bus stop.

Ernakulam Mulanthurutthi Vettikal Mar Baselios Vidyaniketan School, a bus carrying children on an excursion to Ooty, rammed into the back of a KSRTC bus traveling from Kottarakkara to Coimbatore. Due to this, restrictions were imposed on tourist buses. The first instruction issued by the MVD was that officials should check the vehicle seven days before going on an excursion with the students. But according to the new order, once in 30 days, it will be enough to bring the tourist buses for inspection. The inspection is conducted to ensure the functionality of the buses.

Contract carriage vehicles will be inspected by MVD inspectors once a month to ensure efficiency. It will be ensured that illegal lights, air horns, and loud sound systems are not used in the buses. MVD has issued 31 instructions for inspection of tourist vehicles. MVD informs that action will be taken against vehicles with speed lock disengaged, GPS not working, loud music system and air condition fitted with a special engine.