Govt to Mandate Accredited Manufacturing for Sleeper Buses

The Indian government has announced that all sleeper coach buses must now be manufactured only by automobile companies or facilities accredited by the central government. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the move aims to reduce fire accidents, following a series of incidents over the past six months that claimed 145 lives. Existing buses will also need retrofitting with fire detection systems, emergency exits with hammers, emergency lighting, and driver drowsiness indicators.

The regulations reinforce compliance with the Bus Body Code of India (AIS-052), which mandates safety, structural, and design standards for all bus bodies. The revised code, effective since September 2025, addresses key safety concerns such as flammable interiors, blocked or narrow exits, faulty emergency windows, lack of fire safety equipment, limited evacuation time, and inadequately trained staff.

Gadkari also highlighted enforcement measures, including action against state transport officials who allowed self-certification by manual bus body builders. The updated rules aim to standardize manufacturing and retrofitting practices, ensuring improved passenger safety and uniformity across the sleeper coach segment.

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