Thrissur: The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department has suspended the licence of a private bus driver after he allegedly deviated from the approved route and sped off without realising the passengers were still onboard. The action was taken against Baiju from Chazhur, the driver of KBT bus operating on the Thriprayar–Thrissur route.

Motor Vehicle Department Enforcement Inspector PV Biju ordered to suspend the licence for one month based on a formal complaint filed by Thriprayar Joint RTO Manjula, who was travelling on the bus at the time of the incident while returning home to Thrissur after work.

During the enforcement drive, the Motor Vehicles Department collected ₹1.04 lakh in penalties from 11 private buses that violated route conditions and diverted without proper authorisation.

Officials observed that buses scheduled to start from Irinjalakuda and Thrissur and enter Swaraj Round via Kuruppam Road were dropping passengers in front of Metro Hospital and directly heading to Shakthan Stand, without going to Swaraj Round, a mandatory part of the route.

Inspector PV Biju warned that repeated violations and passenger drop-offs on the road could result in route permits being cancelled. The inspection drive was carried out with the support of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector VR Aneesh and driver-inspector PG Manikandan.

The Motor Vehicles Department stated that strict monitoring of private buses in Thrissur district will continue to ensure passenger safety, route compliance, and public transport discipline.