Transport officials in the Nilgiris seized 10 tourist cabs during recent raids for allegedly operating without paying the required taxes and for violating rules governing tourist vehicles in the district. The enforcement action was carried out by officials of the regional transport office in Ooty, with fines totalling Rs. 1.38 lakh imposed on the vehicles.
The action comes as the Nilgiris continues to record operations by hundreds of tourist cabs and other tourist vehicles serving visitors across the hill district. The transport department has prescribed rules and operating norms for these vehicles, including requirements intended to support passenger safety and ensure regulatory compliance.
Officials said the 10 vehicles were found to have failed to pay the appropriate taxes and were also not complying with other requirements applicable to tourist cabs operating in the Nilgiris. The vehicles were seized during surprise raids conducted against operators suspected of breaching the prescribed conditions.
The enforcement drive covers tourist cabs and tourist vehicles operating in and around the district, a major destination that includes Ooty and other locations frequently visited by travellers. The department did not provide details about the individual operators, the specific rules allegedly breached by each vehicle or the duration of the seizures in the information available.
The transport department said the raids were intended to identify tourist cabs being operated without adhering to the applicable norms. The officials also indicated that the operation would not be limited to the recent seizures, as surprise inspections are expected to continue in the Nilgiris.
The department said further raids would be conducted in the future to book tourist cab operators who operate without complying with tax requirements and other conditions. The latest enforcement action leaves the transport office’s stated next step as continued surprise inspections across the district.
