Andhra Pradesh govt enforces strict safety norms for sleeper buses after fire incidents
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister M.andipalli Ramprasad Reddy on Tuesday assured the Legislative Assembly that the state government is closely monitoring fire accidents involving private sleeper buses and has implemented stringent safety measures to prevent such incidents.
Responding to a question raised by Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy during the ongoing session, the minister acknowledged that fatal fire accidents in private sleeper buses have come to the government's notice. He provided data from the Transport and Roads & Buildings Department, stating that a total of 851 sleeper buses are registered in the state — 16 in the government sector and 835 in the private sector.
The minister outlined the key preventive steps currently in force. “Circular instructions have been issued to the registering authorities mandating strict compliance with Rule 128 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which enforces rigorous construction, safety equipment, and design standards for tourist vehicles,” he said. These standards cover structural integrity, lighting, interior fittings, specific door dimensions, passenger seating standards, and mandatory rear-view mirrors.
The Transport Department has also been conducting regular special drives targeting private sleeper buses across the state. According to enforcement statistics shared by the minister, as many as 13,724 cases were booked and ₹11.96 crore in penalties collected in 2025. Up to July 2026, an additional 9,003 cases have been booked and ₹9.79 crore in penalties collected.
Mr. Sridhar Reddy, while raising the issue, observed that about 90% of the accidents are attributed to human negligence. He urged the government to take stringent action against those responsible and insisted on imposing heavier penalties for traffic rule violations to check accidents effectively.
The minister assured the House that the government is continuously monitoring the situation and will take all necessary measures to ensure passenger safety in private sleeper buses.
