The Kerala government has directed the State Transport Authority (STA) to review the uniform colour code it mandated for tourist buses in the state, following sustained complaints from the tourism and transport sectors that the restrictions are out of step with rules followed elsewhere in the country. Transport Secretary T.V. Anupama has issued a gazette notification invoking Section 67(1)(d) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to set the review in motion.

Background: The 2021 Colour Code

Kerala introduced the uniform colour code for contract carriage vehicles, including tourist buses, in 2021 under the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules. The move followed a direction from the Kerala High Court on road safety. The court had simultaneously directed that large photographs and writings of film stars must not be displayed on the body or safety glass of buses — a restriction that will remain in force regardless of the outcome of this review.

Why Operators Are Complaining

The core grievance is an uneven playing field. The Central government's All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 do not prescribe any specific colour for tourist vehicles. As a result, tourist buses operating on All India Tourist Permits from other states can freely enter Kerala without facing the same colour requirements imposed on locally registered operators. According to the government order, some operators have gone so far as to register their vehicles in other states specifically to sidestep Kerala's colour restrictions.

Revenue and Policy Implications

The state government has acknowledged that the registration shift is a fiscal concern. Operators registering outside Kerala means the state loses out on motor vehicle tax and permit fee revenue. This financial argument appears to have added urgency to the review alongside the industry's competitiveness concerns. Notably, this is the first formal government-level intervention on the issue since the colour code was introduced over three years ago.

Scope of the Review

The STA has been asked to examine the existing colour code in light of the Central rules and the High Court's earlier directions, and to decide whether it should be retained, modified, or changed entirely. The government has been explicit that the road safety dimensions of the High Court order — particularly the ban on large film star images and writings on bus bodies and safety glass — are not up for reconsideration. The final call rests with the State Transport Authority.

What Comes Next

The STA's review is expected to weigh Kerala's standalone framework against national standards and produce a fresh decision. Industry stakeholders in the tourism and transport sectors will be watching closely, as the outcome could affect vehicle registration patterns, inter-state competition, and the state's share of the tourist transport market. A decision that aligns Kerala's rules more closely with the Central permit framework could stem the operator exodus to other states.