Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Transport Minister and actor-turned-politician KB Ganesh Kumar has ordered a statewide crackdown on illegal air horns, calling them a dangerous nuisance that threatens public safety and worsens noise pollution.

The Minister has directed the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) to conduct a special enforcement drive from October 13 to 19, targeting all vehicles—especially private and stage carriage buses—using banned air horns.

“All confiscated air horns should be displayed before the media and then crushed under a road roller,” the Minister said, adding that district-level teams must submit detailed reports on seizures. 

Calling the use of air horns “a public menace,” Kumar said, “This practice has to end. We are taking decisive action to ensure compliance.”

The move follows an incident in Kothamangalam, where a bus driver allegedly blared an air horn during the Minister’s visit and drove recklessly into a bus stand, triggering public outrage.

The driver’s licence was suspended, and the vehicle’s permit cancelled soon after.

Officials said the week-long drive will include surprise inspections at highways, bus depots, and major transport hubs, in coordination with the police. Repeated violators may face permanent cancellation of vehicle permits and licences.

Ganesh Kumar, known for his hands-on approach, recently made headlines for pulling up a KSRTC bus crew for keeping plastic bottles near the driver’s seat and for calling off a public event over poor attendance.

The 60-year-old MLA, who has represented Pathanapuram for over 25 years, is part of a small regional outfit that has been aligned with both major political fronts in Kerala.