Following a series of deadly sleeper bus accidents that have claimed nearly 145 lives over the past four months, the Indian government has adopted a noticeably tougher position on road safety, making it clear that violations will no longer be overlooked. Authorities have warned bus operators, owners and manufacturers that repeated safety lapses will invite stringent action, including cancellation of licences and permanent removal from service, as part of a broader push to restore public confidence in long-distance bus travel.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have acknowledged that sleeper bus safety has emerged as a deeply serious concern. An internal assessment of recent accidents has revealed widespread and systemic shortcomings, ranging from how buses are manufactured to how their fitness is certified and how safety rules are enforced on the ground. Officials have stressed that when public lives are at stake, enforcement cannot be lax and must be uncompromising, with strict penalties for those who ignore or deliberately bypass regulations.
One of the key areas under scrutiny is the manufacturing process of sleeper buses. The government has flagged concerns over whether prescribed safety standards are being properly followed during construction. In response, a revised Bus Body Code came into effect on October 1, 2025, requiring all newly registered buses to adhere to stricter design, structural and fire-safety norms. The aim is to reduce risks such as rapid fire spread and structural failures that have contributed to high fatalities in recent accidents. However, in light of the continued loss of life, the government is now considering even more stringent steps.
Among the measures being discussed is a move to restrict bus manufacturing exclusively to authorised Original Equipment Manufacturers. The intent behind this proposal is to eliminate unauthorised or poorly regulated fabrication practices that often compromise safety standards and escape effective oversight. Officials believe that tighter control at the manufacturing stage is critical to preventing dangerous vehicles from entering service in the first place.
Another major issue highlighted by the Ministry relates to failures in vehicle fitness testing and enforcement at the state level. Referring to recent fatal incidents, including a sleeper bus fire in Rajasthan, officials noted that serious lapses were evident in how fitness certifications were granted. In some cases, buses that had passed mandatory tests were later found to have undergone unauthorised alterations, raising questions about both the integrity of inspections and post-certification monitoring.
To address this gap, the Union Road Transport Minister has advised state transport departments to shift towards fully automated fitness testing systems. By reducing human intervention, the government hopes to improve transparency, limit corruption and ensure that mechanical faults or unsafe modifications are detected before vehicles are approved for long-distance operations. Automated testing is seen as a crucial step in strengthening the credibility of the fitness certification process.
Authorities have also raised concerns about illegal alterations made after fitness certificates are issued. Investigations into sleeper bus accidents in Andhra Pradesh revealed that multiple modifications were carried out after certification, undermining the very purpose of the approval process. Officials have stressed that enforcement cannot end with the issuance of a certificate and must continue through regular inspections, roadside checks and vigilant policing to deter operators from flouting safety norms.
Reiterating the government’s firm position, senior officials have emphasised that passenger safety is non-negotiable. Any operator or driver found violating safety rules will face immediate and severe consequences, including withdrawal of licences and a complete ban from operating on public roads. The Centre has made it clear that these measures are intended not only as punishment but also as a deterrent, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to safety violations in the sleeper bus sector.
