KSRTC’s Munnar double-decker tourist bus: Why is Kerala High Court concerned about it?
![kerala-high-court-ksrtc-double-decker-bus-gif The KSRTC double-decker bus (left) and the Kerala High Court. Photo: Special Arrangement](https://img.onmanorama.com/content/dam/mm/en/travel/travel-news/images/2025/1/29/kerala-high-court-ksrtc-double-decker-bus.gif?w=1120&h=583)
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Kochi: It’s been just a few weeks since the KSRTC announced that it is launching a double-decker bus in Munnar for tourists. The bus, which was part of the ‘Royal View Project’ of KSRTC, has transparent glass panels, light settings, comfortable seating and a quality music and public information system. However, the Kerala High Court recently asked how the state government could water down traffic laws for the sake of new projects. The bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Murali Krishna referred to the government order that relaxed rules and guidelines for the double-decker bus and had the government file a reply in this matter. The court made the observations while considering the suo moto cases against the illegal modifications made to the vehicle’s body. The bench mentioned that the government has no right to make such relaxations.
What rule is the bus breaking?
The court said that the lighting arrangements of the bus were against the rules. A government order in December last year exempted KSRTC from following safety standards and guidelines for other tourist buses. It allowed the double-decker bus to have LED lights, wheel arches, a single headlight at night and window glasses. The court said the bus floutes the AIS-008 rules and endangers other road users and drivers. The division bench also noted how a tourist bus that violated these norms was slapped with a fine of Rs 1,95,000 recently. The vlogs of two tourist buses that have made illegal modifications were played in the open court a while ago. The bench also directed to implead the registered owners of the vehicles in the suit.