Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday that sleeper coach buses will now be manufactured only by established automobile companies or government-accredited facilities, in a bid to curb rising fire accidents and improve passenger safety.
Speaking after the 43rd meeting of the Transport Development Council, Gadkari said the decision aims to address concerns over poor design and substandard materials used in many privately built sleeper buses. The revised bus body code will require all manufacturers to get type approval from authorised testing agencies, ending the earlier self-certification system often followed by small bus body builders.
This change is part of broader efforts to tighten safety norms, including better fire prevention systems, emergency exits, and structural strength. Gadkari emphasised that standardised manufacturing will make buses safer and reduce incidents of fires, which have claimed several lives in recent accidents involving sleeper coaches.
The minister also discussed introducing vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology to alert drivers about hazards like parked vehicles or fog, further enhancing road safety.
With these measures, the government hopes to bring more accountability to bus building and protect travellers on long-distance routes.
