Beyond White: Kerala tourist bus operators push to end uniform colour mandate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tourist buses in Kerala may soon move away from their mandatory white colour scheme. Bus operators have argued that the current uniform white requirement lacks aesthetic appeal and negatively impacts the tourism sector. The State Transport Authority is scheduled to review this matter during its final meeting under the current administration.

The government implemented the uniform white colour policy following the tragic Vadakkencherry bus accident in October 2022, which resulted in nine fatalities, including five students. Authorities initially adopted this regulation to improve road safety, drawing inspiration from similar practices in foreign countries where public vehicles are often white to increase visibility. Despite significant resistance from bus owners, the administration previously maintained the mandate. Discussions regarding a potential reversal resurfaced following a change in ministerial leadership within the Transport Department.

Notably, the department is considering these requests from bus owners without having conducted a formal comparative study on accident rates before and after the colour mandate. Statistics indicate that no major accidents involving tourist buses have occurred since the shift to white. While the Kerala High Court banned distracting exterior displays on tourist buses in 2019, some argue that the subsequent rise in vehicle irregularities stemmed from the Motor Vehicles Department’s failure to enforce existing regulations rather than the colour of the buses themselves.