Hyderabad: The Centre tightened safety norms for sleeper buses following a series of fire accidents, with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announcing strict measures to improve passenger safety.
Speaking to the media, Gadkari said only automobile companies or Central government-authorised manufacturers could build sleeper coach buses. Consequently, he said manual body builders could no longer construct buses through self-certification.
According to him, the government imposed the ban to stop unsafe practices. Moreover, the move aimed to enforce uniform safety standards across the sector.
Mandatory safety systems for sleeper buses
Meanwhile, Gadkari said all sleeper buses already operating on roads must install key safety systems. These include fire detection systems, emergency exits with safety hammers, emergency lighting, and driver drowsiness alert alarms.
He added that the Centre framed the new rules based on revised AIS-052 guidelines, also known as the Bus Body Code. Therefore, officials reviewed past accidents before finalising the norms.
The minister said the government wanted to shift the sleeper bus sector from an unorganised setup to an organised system. Hence, authorities would cancel the licences of operators and manufacturers who violated the rules.
Gadkari said recent accidents underlined the urgency of these reforms. Notably, he pointed out that bus accidents across the country had claimed 145 lives in the past six months.