The central government took an important decision to control the number of accidents taking place on Indian roads, particularly fires in sleeper buses. According to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, passenger safety should always come first and there will be no compromises in this matter.

As per the guidelines, no sleeper bus shall be registered until and unless it meets all the criteria and passes the test. In light of Bus Body Code (AIS-052), no sleeper bus will be constructed in any other factory besides authorized automobile factories.

According to Nitin Gadkari, every single sleeper bus must go through the test of inspection in which the fire safety system, emergency exit door, hammer, and lightening facility must pass the test of being seen on camera. Evidence of all these safety aspects will be uploaded to the "Vahan Portal," after which the bus will be allowed to hit the road.

In recent years, several tragic fire incidents have occurred in sleeper coaches, resulting in passenger deaths due to flammable interiors and narrow passageways. In light of these risks, the minister urged existing bus body builders to modernize their factories and adopt new technology. This new safety framework, effective September 1, 2025, aims to ensure safe and reliable passenger travel.

The government's emphatic message is clear: development is important, but individual life is more valuable. Gadkari on Tuesday reviewed the progress of quality and maintenance of road projects in Odisha based on feedback received through media and internet media.

Addressing the 'Annual Infrastructure Conference cum Achievement Awards 2026', he expressed concern over the delays in road construction by the Border Roads Organisation and stressed the need to modernize the system to expedite the implementation of highway projects in border areas. He also said that India needs to further speed up the decision-making process.