States Crack Down on Unsafe Sleeper Buses After Expose

Authorities in Delhi and Rajasthan have launched swift enforcement action against unsafe sleeper buses following an investigative report by India Today that exposed widespread violations of passenger safety norms across several major cities. The report, which examined sleeper bus operations in Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bhopal, and Jaipur, revealed serious lapses that have raised renewed concerns over commuter safety.

The investigation found multiple violations in sleeper coaches, including emergency exits blocked by seats or stacked luggage, obstructed windows, missing fire extinguishers, and the absence of basic safety equipment such as hammers and fire protection systems. These findings come amid a spate of fatal bus fire incidents across the country, intensifying scrutiny of long-distance sleeper bus operations.

In the national capital, the Delhi government launched a late-night enforcement drive soon after the report aired. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said the crackdown, dubbed “Operation Deadly Permit,” was initiated within hours. According to officials, checks began around midnight at key transit points such as Mori Gate, the Rajokri border, Mayur Vihar, and various ISBT locations. During the operation, around a dozen sleeper buses were impounded for openly flouting safety standards.

The impact of the exposure was equally visible in Rajasthan. Vigilance teams from the state Transport Department carried out extensive raids across Jaipur, issuing challans and seizing several buses found in violation of prescribed norms. Inspections revealed emergency gates that were deceptively marked but rendered unusable, missing fire cylinders, absent safety hammers, and corridors clogged with luggage.

In one case, a sleeper bus travelling from Ahmedabad to Jaipur was found with luggage stacked at one emergency exit and seats installed at the other, completely blocking evacuation routes. The bus, operated by Parsvanath Travels, was seized after passengers were safely disembarked. Another bus on the Bhuj–Jaipur route was challaned after inspectors found seats obstructing both emergency exits. Additional buses were seized from Jaipur’s Sindhi Camp area, where emergency exits appeared functional from the outside but were blocked internally by sleeper berths. Authorities also demolished illegal roof structures during the enforcement drive.

Other states have also taken note of the findings. Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said his department had been directed to immediately inspect sleeper buses and take strict action against violators. Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh confirmed that the report had been reviewed and assured that investigations and enforcement would follow against say buses.

At the national level, the Centre has already moved to tighten sleeper bus regulations. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recently announced that sleeper buses can now be built only by automobile companies or manufacturers accredited by the central government, effectively banning local body builders. Existing sleeper buses have also been instructed to retrofit critical safety systems, including fire detection, emergency lighting, ADAS, safety hammers, and compliant emergency exits.