The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a new scheme, under which any tourist vehicle operator may apply for an All India Tourist Authorisation/Permit through online mode. It will be issued within 30 days of submission of such applications after relevant documents are submitted and fees deposited. The new set of rules, to be known as All India Tourist Vehicles Authorisation and Permit Rules, 2021, will be applicable from April 1, 2021. All existing permits shall continue to be in force during their validity.

The new rules for permits are expected to go a long way in promoting tourism across the States, while simultaneously growing the revenue of State Governments. This measure was discussed in the 39th and 40th Transport Development Council Meetings and concurred to by participants from the States. The rules come even as the ministry is in the pursuit of providing seamless movement to tourist passenger vehicles after the success of goods carriage vehicles under the National Permit Regime.

The scheme allows flexibility in the form of authorisation or permit being granted for a period of three months or its multiples thereof, not exceeding three years at a time. This provision has been incorporated keeping in mind those areas of the country where there is a limited season of tourism and also for those operators who have limited financial capacity. It will also consolidate a central database and fees of all such authorisation or permits, which may provide details about of tourist movements, scope for improvement and promotion of tourism.