**Executive Summary**
This document is a response by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha (No. 1059) regarding the regulation of private bus operators, answered on February 5th, 2026. It addresses questions about road accidents involving private buses, existing regulatory frameworks, safety measures, and penalties for non-compliance, with statistical data until 2024 being provided. The document also outlines recent modifications to All India Tourist Permit Rules.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Road Accident Data:**
* The government publishes reports on "Road Accidents in India," based on data received from States/UTs.
* District-wise accident data for private bus operators is not maintained centrally.
* State/UT-wise accident data involving buses as the impacting vehicle for 2020-2024 is available in an annexure.
* **Vehicle Fitness and Safety Standards:**
* All transport vehicles, including private buses, require a valid Certificate of Fitness under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
* Fitness testing is mandated biennially for the first eight years and annually thereafter.
* Sleeper coach body building testing and approval must follow AIS 119(Rev.1) 2016, with periodic amendments since 2017 for additional safety provisions.
* **Mandatory Safety Features/Requirements:**
* Two fire extinguishers (10 kg total), one near the driver, one in the passenger compartment.
* Four exits for buses of 12m length, with one additional hatch for buses above 12m.
* Mandatory fire detection and suppression system in the engine compartment.
* No separation between passenger and driver compartment.
* **OEM and Non-OEM Bus Body Builders**
* Level Playing Field for OEM and Non-OEM bus body builders with the seating capacity exceeding 22 passengers excluding driver with effect from 1st Sept 2025.
* **Compliance and Enforcement:**
* An advisory has been issued to all States/UTs for strict compliance with AIS:052 and AIS:119 during registration and fitness inspections.
* **All India Tourist Permit Rules:**
* All India Tourist Permit Rules, 2023, notified on April 18th, 2023, supersede the 2021 rules, effective May 1st, 2023.
* The new rules simplify application procedures and reduce compliance burdens.
* More categories of tourist vehicles with lesser permit fees have been introduced for vehicles with less than ten seats, providing financial relief.
* **Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs):**
* Installation of VLTDs and emergency buttons is required in public service vehicles, including private buses, as per Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
* VLTDs should be AIS-140 compliant, enabling GPS-based tracking and integration with emergency response systems.
* State/UT governments are responsible for implementing the VLTD framework, integrating it with emergency response platforms and monitoring systems.
* **Nirbhaya Framework:**
* A scheme approved on January 15th, 2020, supports the development of State-wise vehicle tracking platforms for safety and enforcement under the Nirbhaya Framework.
* The system aims to enhance the safety of women and girls by establishing Monitoring Centers that track PSVs fitted with location tracking devices and emergency buttons.
* 19 States/UTs have commissioned monitoring centers to track PSVs.
**Impact Analysis**
**States/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Required to provide accident data, enforce safety standards, ensure compliance with AIS standards, and implement VLTD framework.
* **Action Required:** Furnish accurate accident data, enforce safety regulations, and implement VLTD framework according to notified rules.
**Private Bus Operators**
* **Impact:** Must adhere to vehicle fitness standards, safety feature requirements, and comply with VLTD installation.
* **Action Required:** Obtain certificates of fitness, ensure adherence to safety standards, install VLTDs, and comply with permit rules.
**Passengers / General Public**
* **Impact:** Increased safety due to mandatory safety features and monitoring systems
* **Action Required:** No action required
Key Entities Referenced
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: The regulatory framework for vehicle fitness, safety, and registration in India, frequently referenced in relation to private bus operations.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary government body responsible for formulating and administering policies related to road transport in India. This ministry is responsible for the regulations outlined in the document.
AIS-140: An Automotive Industry Standard specification, related to Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs), influencing safety and monitoring of public service vehicles like private buses.
All India Tourist Permit Rules, 2023: Rules to simplify permit application and reduces the compliance burden of 'Authorization' and All India Tourist Permit.
Nirbhaya Framework: A scheme for implementing state-wise vehicle tracking platforms for safety and enforcement under AIS-140 specifications. It is designed to enhance safety, especially for women and children.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1059
ANSWERED ON 5TH FEBRUARY, 2026
REGULATION OF PRIVATE BUS OPERATORS
1059. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of road accidents involving private bus operators
reported during the last five years, State-wise and district-wise in
Andhra Pradesh;
(b) the existing regulatory framework governing private bus travel
services, including permit conditions, safety standards, driver
qualifications and vehicle fitness norms;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen monitoring,
surveillance and compliance of safety norms by private bus operators
in the light of the increasing accidents;
(d) whether the Government proposes to introduce mandatory safety
technologies such as GPS tracking, driver alert systems, speed
governors, real-time monitoring or emergency response integration for
private buses;
(e) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the number of penalties imposed, licences suspended and cases
registered against private bus operators for non-compliance with safety
regulations during the last five years, State-wise and district-wise in
Andhra Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Government publishes report on “Road Accidents in India” based
on data received from States/ UTs. The specific information on district-
wise accidents involving private bus operators is not maintained
centrally. However, the State/UT-wise number of accidents involving
buses as impacting vehicle during the year 2020 to 2024 is available at
Annexure.(b) to (f) All transport vehicles, including private buses, are required
to possess a valid Certificate of fitness issued under the Central Motor
Vehicles Rules, 1989. Fitness testing is mandated to be carried
out biennially in the first eight years and annually thereafter, in
accordance with Rule 62 of the said Rules to ensure compliance with
prescribed safety and emission standards.
The Government vide G.S.R. 905(E) dated 23rd September, 2016
notified that the testing and approval for body building of sleeper
coaches shall be in accordance with AIS 119(Rev.1) 2016. This has
been amended periodically to incorporate additional safety provisions
since 2017.
Some of the features / requirements are detailed as under :
I. Two units of fire extinguishers (total capacity 10 kg), one near driver
and one in passenger compartment.
II. As per standard, 4 exits (1 exit for emergency door, 2 exits for
hatches and 1 exit for window or glass) have been provided for buses of
12 m length. Further, one additional hatch has to be provided for buses
above 12m length.
III. Mandatory installation of fire detection and suppression system in
engine compartment and other fire-prone areas.
IV. No separation between passenger and driver compartment for all
type of buses.
The Government vide G.S.R 159 (E) dated 06.03.2024 has notified
Level Playing Field between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)
and Non-OEM Bus Body Builders for buses with seating capacity
exceeding 22 passengers excluding driver with effect from 1st Sept
2025.
Further, the Government has issued an advisory to all States/UTs
for strict compliance of AIS:052 and AIS:119 at the time of registration
and during fitness inspection as per Rule 62 of the Central Motor
Vehicles Rules, 1989.
Also, All India Tourist Permit Rules, 2023 have been notified vide
G.S.R. 302(E) dated 18th April, 2023 have been notified in supersession
of the 2021 rules.This came into effect from 01.05.2023 to simplify the
application procedure and to reduce compliance burden the provision
of "Authorization" and All India Tourist Permit has been madeindependent of each other. Further, more categories of tourist vehicles,
with lesser permit fees for lesser capacity vehicles (less than ten) have
been introduced to provide considerable financial relief to smaller
tourist vehicle operators, having smaller vehicles with lower seating
capacity.
As a part of the vehicle safety framework particularly as a measure to
enhance the safety of women and children, the requirement for
installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) and
emergency buttons in public service vehicles, including private buses,
has been notified under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989,
through Rule 125H. The said provision is related to fitment of AIS-140
compliant VLTDs, enabling GPS-based tracking, and integration with
emergency response systems.
The implementation of the VLTD framework, including integration
with State emergency response platforms and monitoring systems, is
undertaken by the respective State/Union Territory Governments in
accordance with the notified rules.
Further, the Government approved a scheme (on 15th January,
2020) for implementation of “Development, Customization, Deployment
and Management of State-wise vehicle tracking platform for Safety &
Enforcement as per AIS-140 Specifications in States / UTs under
Nirbhaya Framework”. The proposed system envisages enhancing the
safety of women and girl children by establishing Monitoring Centers
across States/UTs, which shall track all the Public Service Vehicles
(PSV) that are fitted with location tracking device and emergency
buttons for raising an alert in case of emergency. The Monitoring
Centre monitors the alerts and coordinate with State Emergency
Response Support System (SERSS) for responding to distress calls.
The said scheme is limited to providing finance assistance
for setting up of Monitoring Centre in each State/UT for the tracking of
PSVs. Total 19 States/UTs have commissioned the Monitoring Centres
so far .Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1059 ANSWERED ON 5TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI
PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR REGARDING REGULATION OF PRIVATE BUS
OPERATORS.
Accidents involving buses as the impacting vehicle during the years 2020 to 2024.
S. No. State/UT 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1 Andhra Pradesh 251 305 447 288 338
2 Arunachal Pradesh 9 18 14 23 14
3 Assam 268 314 343 290 190
4 Bihar 70 135 130 67 74
5 Chhattisgarh 110 68 136 152 107
6 Goa 66 47 174 79 64
7 Gujarat 244 248 295 267 237
8 Haryana 330 142 378 187 126
9 Himachal Pradesh 26 57 104 86 75
10 Jharkhand 165 113 92 95 72
11 Karnataka 854 686 1145 1069 1313
12 Kerala 1157 1391 2936 1796 1896
13 Madhya Pradesh 1088 1450 1375 1365 1088
14 Maharashtra 354 348 483 860 625
15 Manipur 2 2 3 2 0
16 Meghalaya 3 4 4 4 6
17 Mizoram 6 0 0 2 0
18 Nagaland 2 12 8 2 1
19 Odisha 262 335 371 379 451
20 Punjab 81 23 31 63 73
21 Rajasthan 593 648 625 526 440
22 Sikkim 0 0 12 25 0
23 Tamil Nadu 1285 767 1188 1215 1242
24 Telangana 316 345 385 434 524
25 Tripura 8 5 7 4 6
26 Uttarakhand 3 5 23 68 60
27 Uttar Pradesh 1935 1900 2124 2194 2367
28 West Bengal* 359 328 538 513 521
29 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 3 3 3 7 5
30 Chandigarh 0 2 5 0 1
31 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman 0 1 3 3 3
& Diu
32 Delhi 8 3 16 17 16
33 Jammu & Kashmir 348 412 357 398 364
34 Ladakh NA 0 36 1 32
35 Lakshadweep 0 0 0 0 0
36 Puducherry 5 9 23 21 3
Total 10211 10126 13814 12502 12334
Note: 1. Data have been reconciled for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for the calendar
year 2020
2. * Figures of West Bengal for the Year 2024 is re-casted based on the pattern of the
data furnished by the State Police Department for the year 2023 and the aggregate
eDAR data of the state for the year 2024.
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