95% of Inter-State Buses Violate Norms; Emergency Exits Found Locked
District Transport Officer K. Murali Mohan said their special inspections of inter-state contract carriage buses would continue
TIRUPATI: A series of inspections by the Transport department in Tirupati district has found several inter-state sleeper buses operating with locked emergency exits and blocked escape routes. These continuing violations are raising serious concerns over passenger safety, particularly so in the wake of recent accidents involving private coaches.
The Transport department has launched a special enforcement drive from March 26 along major highways, check-posts and toll plazas following a spate of accidents involving private buses. Three special teams inspected vehicles entering the district from Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry and other states.
Nearly 95 per cent of the buses checked violated one or more provisions, while about 13 per cent had life-threatening deficiencies, particularly relating to body building and safety standards prescribed under the Automotive Indian Standards (AIS-052 and AIS-119).
Inspections revealed that emergency exits are either locked, blocked with fixed ladders, or rendered unusable due to structural alterations. In several sleeper coaches, additional berths have been installed beyond approved layouts, narrowing gangways and obstructing evacuation paths. Many lacked mandatory fire extinguishers and glass-breaking hammers. Violations also included cracked windshields, expired permits, overloading, and unqualified drivers, along with deficiencies in body structure, berth arrangement and emergency exit provisions.
Transport officials point out that unauthorised structural modifications compromise vehicle stability. These could trap passengers inside during accidents or fire incidents and significantly reduce chances of safe evacuation. “AIS-052 and AIS-119 norms mandate accessible emergency exits, prescribed berth spacing, unobstructed gangways, fire safety equipment, and approved body design. But several operators alter layouts to add extra berths and increase passenger capacity,” a senior official said.
More than 2,000 private buses pass daily through the undivided Chittoor region. Of these, about 295 operate towards Bengaluru, around 230 towards Vijayawada, 125 towards Hyderabad and nearly 80 towards Chennai. In Tirupati district alone, enforcement teams registered about 274 cases during the enforcement drive and imposed penalties totalling nearly ₹22 lakh. Seven buses with serious safety violations have been seized, while several vehicles were detained for deficiencies.
District Transport Officer K. Murali Mohan said their special inspections of inter-state contract carriage buses would continue. “Operators are making structural alterations that violate approved designs and compromise passenger safety. Emergency exits must remain functional and safety equipment provided as mandated. There will be no compromise on safety”, he maintained.
The DTO warned that strict action, including seizure and suspension of permits, will be taken against operators violating rules and endangering passenger safety. He advised passengers to check availability of emergency exits and safety equipment before boarding sleeper buses.
- Series of inspections in Tirupati district revealed locked emergency exits and blocked escape routes in inter-state sleeper buses
- Around 13 per cent violations are life-threatening under AIS-052 and AIS-119 norms
