Kerala re-interprets central motor vehicles rules for operating camper vans

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

In a major policy initiative that could redefine tourism possibilities, the Kerala government has re-interpreted the central motor vehicles rules for permitting camper vans to be operated in the state.

The government’s decision is for promoting caravan tourism in Kerala.

Motor vehicles department (MVD) offices have been receiving inquiries for operating camper vans that are common in several western countries. However, permissions were denied with interpretation of the existing rules became a hindrance.

After the Kerala government announced its caravan tourism policy, the tourism director had forwarded a proposal based on submissions from tour operators, looking for allowancefor operating camper trucks, built with camping facilities on light goods vehicles (LGVs) chassis with cargo body with maximum seating capacity of five persons.

Kerala government set up a technical committee under the motor vehicles department (MVD) for looking into the proposal in detail and comparing it with the design parameters and the permitted limits as per central motor vehicles rules (CMVR) 1989.

On the basis of the committee’s report, the transport commissioner cleared the proposal for approval.

Camper trucks are widely operated in various other states within India too. “The decision can be a major fillip to the tourism sector, which is a major industry in our state and it cannot remain isolated from the modern trends in the tourism sector. The proposal of the tourism director is in conformance with the CMVR,” said secretary (transport) BijuPrabhakar.

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