Bengaluru (Anekal): In a major crackdown, the Karnataka transport department on Thursday morning seized several tourist buses from Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland operating illegally without paying the mandatory state taxes. The operation was conducted at the Attibele checkpost on the Bengaluru–Hosur National Highway.
The surprise inspection was led by Additional Transport Commissioner Omkareshwari, along with Joint Commissioners Shobha and Gayathri. During the checks, officials found that several buses were ferrying passengers without valid permits and had evaded taxes, causing significant loss to the state exchequer.
“We launched the operation early in the morning between 3 and 4 am. Teams from all Bengaluru RTO divisions, including inspectors and officers, were deployed. These All India tourist buses registered in other states were found violating permit conditions and avoiding Karnataka state taxes. Hence, we have seized them,” said Additional Commissioner Omkareshwari.
She added that passengers travelling on these buses were provided alternative transport arrangements to ensure no inconvenience. “We immediately made sure all passengers reached their destinations safely. This is perhaps the first time such large-scale action has been taken against out-of-state tourist buses operating without paying Karnataka taxes,” she said.
Records of the seized buses and their owners are now being verified at the transport office. Officials said the operation was carried out under the directive of the Transport Commissioner.
Motor vehicle inspectors Naveen, Vishwanath Shetty, Amulya, Sudhakar, Narasimha Murthy, and RTO officers Deepak, Pramatesh, Rakesh, Kamal Babu, Dileep, Hemant, Puttaswamy, Amogh, Chetan, Sudheer, and Rajkumar participated in the enforcement drive.
The transport department has warned that similar inspections will continue across border checkposts to curb tax evasion and illegal interstate operations by private tourist buses.
