Colour code for private buses from February

To avoid attention diversion of road users by graphics and advertisements on buses

The 14,500 private buses plying in the State will sport uniform colours approved by the State Transport Authority (STA) from February1, depending on the class of services they offer to commuters.

Private buses operating city services will have light green colour with three white lines running from the front to the rear end on both sides and above the wheel arch.

In the case of those offering mofussil services, it will be light blue with three white lines and for limited-stop private buses, it will be maroon with three white lines.

Order issued

State Transport Commissioner Anil Kant, who is also the road safety commissioner, issued orders on Friday enforcing the uniform colour coding for private buses from February 1. New buses hitting the road from February 1 will have to go by the colour coding when they are produced for registration at RTO offices. Those already plying will have to switch to new colours it once they go for the mandatory Certificate of Fitness (CF) test in the Motor Vehicles Department.

STA secretary Rajeev Puthalath said the colour coding was introduced in view of the disturbing graphics and advertisements used by the operators on buses to ensure that their vehicle stood out from the rest. “It was found to be leading to road accidents as the attention of motorists and other road users gets diverted,” he said.

The uniform colour coding will come in handy for commuters to know the class of service and will prevent the operators from misusing the same buses for other classes of services, the STA secretary said.