K. VENKAMMA vs THE GOVT. OF ANDHRA PRADESH & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the Nellore-Ramapuram route, which traverses a short distance through Tamil Nadu, qualifies as an 'inter-state route' under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, specifically referencing Section 68-D(3). The Court ruled that the nationalisation scheme is valid for portions within Andhra Pradesh without prior approval from the Central Government, but cannot be enforced over the Tamil Nadu segment, allowing private operators to continue their services there. The definition of 'route' under Section 2(28A) was clarified to mean the actual highway traversed, not merely the termini locations.