Kerala High Court Directs RTA To Finalise Time Gap Norms For Stage Carriages Entering Kochi

Justice Viju Abraham gave the directions while considering a writ petition concerning bus timing in Kochi.

The Court has previously urged the need to regulate bus timings in the State and directed the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to take necessary steps, and devise an effective schedule with a minimum time gap of five minutes between private stage carriages operating within city limits and 10 minutes within Grama Panchayat limits.

Pursuant to this, an affidavit was filed by the Regional Transport Officer, Ernakulam, which stated that Government has permitted the State Transport Authority to determine time gaps in accordance with Rule 212(1) of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules.

As per the affidavit, a special meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Ernakulam, was convened on September 10, 2025, pursuant to an earlier interim order of the Court. The meeting considered submissions from various stakeholders regarding revision of time schedules for stage carriages operating within the jurisdiction of the RTA, Ernakulam.

The authorities also placed on record data showing that more than 1,100 private stage carriages, including city services and moffusil services issued by different RTAs, enter the city, underscoring the need for effective scheduling and regulatory control.

It was also submitted that the RTO has drafted a seniority list of stage carriage operators on the official website and notice board and after examining the objections furnished, the revised timing will be allotted.

The Court recorded the submissions and directed that the timing must be finalised in respect of private stage carriages without any delay within four months.

“There will be a direction to the Secretary, RTA to finalise the revision of timing in respect of the vehicles of the stage carriages entering Kochi city …as sanctioned by the Government, fixing a minimum time gap of five minutes between private stage carriages operating within city limits and 10 minutes within Grama Panchayat limits without any delay, at any rate within an outer limits of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.” Court ordered.

It was also directed that the prohibition on overtaking in the city limits by stage carriages shall be strictly implemented by the traffic controllers including the Officers of the Motor Vehicles Department, and the City Police headed by the City Police Commissioner, Kochi.

The matter is posted on 13 March for further consideration.

Case Title: Aboobacker and Ors v Joint Regional Transport Officer

Case No: WP(C) 13238/ 2022