The central government has taken a major decision to prevent fire incidents in sleeper buses, making it mandatory to install these safety features.:Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday that from now on, sleeper coach buses will only be manufactured by automobile companies or facilities specifically approved by the central government

News Topical, Digital Desk : Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that sleeper coach buses will be manufactured only by government-approved automobile companies. Gadkari said that to curb the increasing number of fire incidents in sleeper buses, the government has decided that sleeper coach buses will be manufactured only by automobile companies or facilities approved by the central government.

It is mandatory to install these security features

Nitin Gadkari also said that currently operating sleeper coach buses should be equipped with necessary safety features, including fire detection systems, emergency lighting, and driver drowsiness indicators. Furthermore, all existing buses should have emergency exits and hatches to ensure passenger safety.

This should be the standard for sleeper coach buses.

Sleeper coach buses must comply with the AIS-052 Bus Body Code, a mandatory national standard that outlines structural, design, and safety requirements. This code is necessary to ensure that all bus bodies manufactured in India meet high standards for passenger safety. The government aims to significantly improve safety for both drivers and passengers.

Several accidents involving fire in sleeper coach buses

In the past six months alone, sleeper coach buses have been involved in six major fire accidents, claiming 145 lives. Inspections often reveal missing or defective emergency windows. Fire safety equipment is completely lacking, and staff are not properly trained to handle emergencies.

Road accident victims will get cashless treatment

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also stated that Prime Minister Modi will soon launch a cashless medical treatment scheme for road accident victims. Under this scheme, victims will receive cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of the accident. Cash rewards will also be given to Good Samaritans who help transport victims to hospitals.

Nitin Gadkari stated that the central government is working to introduce vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology to curb road accidents. V2V communication technology will allow vehicles to communicate directly with each other, providing drivers with real-time alerts about the speed, position, acceleration, braking, and sudden appearance of vehicles in unseen areas. This will enable drivers to take timely action and reduce the risk of accidents.