PRESS RELEASE ON 392nd REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING - 11th August 2026 - Rajya Sabha Secretariat - Gazette Notification PDF
Issued by Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on 11th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The 392nd Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, presented on August 11, 2026, outlines a framework for "Next-Gen Mobility" focusing on inclusive, digital, and sustainable bus transport. Key recommendations include replacing tourist permits with a unified passenger permit, establishing a National Bus Terminals Authority, and creating a National Bus Digital Grid. Major deadlines include notifying interoperability standards and implementing a National Code for Bus Terminals within one year, with several safety and fleet plans required within three to six months.
Key Points / Main Content
Permits and Border Regulation
- Unified Permits: Replace the All India Tourist Permit with an "All India Passenger Permit" within one year, issued by the state of first registration with rights clearly stated on the permit.
- Digital Enforcement: Eliminate physical border check posts in the remaining six states; enforce regulations exclusively through electronic correlation of VAHAN, FASTag, and vehicle location data.
- Insurance Claims: Collaborate with regulators to ensure injured passengers' claims are placed beyond dispute.
Governance and Infrastructure
- National Bus Terminals Authority: Separate bus operations from terminal ownership by establishing a dedicated authority modeled after the Airports Authority.
- Terminal Standards: Implement a National Code for Bus Terminals within one year and circulate non-discriminatory access frameworks based on established templates like Kashmere Gate.
- Standardized Stops: Notify a standard bus stop design to be circulated to Members of Parliament for MPLADS funding within three months.
Digital Integration and Monitoring
- National Bus Digital Grid: Establish interoperability standards within one year to enable live tracking, unified booking across public and private operators, and a GIS-based network atlas.
- Citizen Oversight: Launch a "cVIGIL-pattern" channel for geo-tagged, time-bound reporting of bus and terminal conditions by citizens.
- Data Architecture: Create a federated national data architecture where States own their systems, and reconcile national fleet figures within six months.
Safety and Fleet Modernization
- Operator Safety Ratings: Publish safety ratings for operators to be considered during permit renewals and mandate Automated Testing Stations (ATS) district-wide.
- Fleet Transition Compact: Encourage "scrap-and-lease" models through registered facilities and establish a time-bound plan for electric bus adoption and battery end-of-life frameworks.
- Emergency Systems: Functionality of emergency alert systems must be achieved within one year, or the associated levy on operators will be terminated.
Inclusivity and Tourism
- Women-Centric Services: Launch a program within six months for dedicated peak-hour services operated by women drivers and staff, alongside mandated CCTV in new buses.
- National Tourist Bus Grid: Develop integrated tourist circuits with unified ticketing across bus, rail, metro, air, and waterways.
Impact Analysis
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways / State Governments Impact: Required to overhaul budgeting, permit systems, and state-level infrastructure. States will be ranked annually on bus transport facilitation. Action Required: Reconcile fleet figures within six months, eliminate border check posts, and integrate state systems into the VAHAN database.
Bus Operators (Public and Private) Impact: Subject to mandatory participation in the digital grid, new safety rating systems, and standardized fitness testing. Action Required: Comply with mandatory tracking requirements, upgrade fleet safety equipment, and transition toward electric vehicle targets.
Passengers and Commuters Impact: Benefit from improved safety, unified ticketing, better terminal facilities, and dedicated services for women. Action Required: Utilize crowdsourced rating systems and citizen vigilance channels to report on bus and terminal conditions.
Members of Parliament Impact: Designated as key facilitators for local infrastructure funding. Action Required: Utilize MPLADS funding to support the rollout of the standardized bus stops once notified.