Authorities in several states, including Rajasthan and the national capital Delhi, have begun strict enforcement drives against sleeper buses found violating safety regulations after an investigative report by India Today highlighted widespread lapses that put passenger lives at risk. The report prompted immediate administrative action, with transport departments launching inspections, raids, seizures, and issuing penalties against non-compliant operators.
The India Today investigation, carried out across cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bhopal, and Jaipur, uncovered serious and recurring safety violations in sleeper coach buses. These included emergency exits blocked by seats or luggage, windows rendered unusable, missing fire extinguishers, and the absence of essential safety equipment. The findings came amid growing concern following multiple fatal bus fire incidents nationwide, intensifying scrutiny of passenger safety standards.
In Delhi, the response was swift. The government launched a late-night enforcement drive dubbed “Operation Deadly Permit” within hours of the report airing. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said officials acted almost immediately after the violations were highlighted. Multiple inspection teams were deployed around midnight to key transit points such as Mori Gate, the Rajokri border, Mayur Vihar, and the ISBT areas, where safety norms were found to be openly flouted. Around one-and-a-half dozen buses were impounded during these checks.
Rajasthan also witnessed an extensive crackdown, particularly in Jaipur. Vigilance teams from the state Transport Department conducted widespread raids, issuing challans and seizing dozens of buses that failed to meet mandatory safety requirements. The investigation had shown how emergency exits were often deceptively marked but practically unusable, with fire extinguishers and safety hammers missing and corridors cluttered with luggage.
One bus operating on the Ahmedabad–Jaipur route was found with luggage stacked directly at the emergency gate, while seats blocked the other exit entirely. The vehicle, operated by Parsvanath Travels, was seized after passengers were safely disembarked. Another bus arriving from Bhuj to Jaipur was discovered with seats installed in front of both emergency exits and was challaned. Several more buses were seized from Jaipur’s Sindhi Camp area, where emergency exits appeared visible from outside but were blocked internally by sleeper berths. During the enforcement drive, illegal roof structures on some buses were also dismantled.
Other states have followed suit. In Punjab, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said his department had been instructed to immediately inspect sleeper buses and take firm action against those violating safety norms. He pointed out that clear rules had already been issued mandating multiple emergency exits, fire extinguishers, fire protection systems, and other safeguards, yet violations continued. He stressed that the priority was protecting human lives and that non-compliant buses could be stopped if necessary.
Uttar Pradesh has also taken note of the findings. Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh said the department would initiate strict action against violators. He added that enforcement measures, including bus seizures and disciplinary action against officials, had been taken in the past and would continue. Any bus found to be non-compliant would be investigated promptly, he said, reiterating that no operator had the right to endanger passengers.
At the national level, the Centre has already tightened norms governing sleeper buses. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recently announced that sleeper buses can now be manufactured only by automobile companies or by builders accredited by the central government, effectively banning local or manual body builders from constructing such vehicles. Existing sleeper buses have also been directed to retrofit critical safety features, including fire detection systems, emergency lighting, driver drowsiness alert systems, functional emergency exits, and safety hammers, signalling a broader push to improve passenger safety across the country.
