BOCI Seeks Phased Implementation of NHRC Sleeper Bus Norms, Flags FDSS and Partition Issues

The Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) has formally submitted a representation to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking a practical and phased implementation of the new sleeper bus norms, even as state transport authorities begin enforcing the new norms.

In its letter addressed to the Chairperson of the NHRC, BOCI said it fully supports the objective of strengthening passenger safety in sleeper bus operations but has urged authorities to reconsider two specific directives that pose operational and financial challenges for the industry.

This includes mandatory retrofitting of Fire Detection and Suppression Systems (FDSS) in existing sleeper buses within 30 days and removal of the driver cabin and passenger cabin partitions.

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Industry Backs Immediate Compliance on Select Safety Measures

BOCI stated that several safety measures outlined in the NHRC directions can be complied with immediately and that its member operators have already been advised to implement them without delay.

These include:

• Immediate removal of sliding doors on sleeper berths, wherever provided
• Installation of minimum 10 kg fire extinguishers (Green Zone) in all sleeper buses
• Regular inspection and maintenance of fire-fighting equipment
• Compliance with approved layouts, emergency exits, and safety signage

The Confederation reiterated that passenger safety remains a shared priority for operators across the country.

FDSS Mandate for Existing Buses Raises Practical Concerns

However, BOCI has raised strong reservations about the mandatory retrofitting of FDSS in existing sleeper buses within a short timeframe.

According to the Confederation, there are currently around 32,000 sleeper coaches operating as intercity contract carriage services and approximately 15,000 sleeper buses running under stage carriage permits across India.

BOCI said implementing FDSS across this entire fleet immediately is not practically feasible due to:

• Technical and structural limitations in existing sleeper coaches
• Limited production and installation capacity of FDSS manufacturers
• Significant financial burden on operators
• Risk of unregulated and steep price escalation by FDSS suppliers

In this context, the Confederation has requested the Central Government to regulate and rationalise FDSS pricing to ensure that safety compliance remains economically viable.

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Call for Phased FDSS Implementation and Uniform Policy

In its representation, BOCI has proposed that:

• FDSS installation be made mandatory only for new sleeper buses registered henceforth
• Existing sleeper buses be granted a reasonable and phased transition period, or suitable exemption, for FDSS installation
• A uniform pan-India policy be issued by the Central Government to avoid varied interpretations and enforcement approaches by individual states

The Confederation cautioned that inconsistent state-level implementation could disrupt sleeper bus operations nationwide.

Objection Raised on Removal of Driver–Passenger Partition Doors

BOCI has also sought reconsideration of the directive mandating the removal of driver–passenger partition doors in sleeper buses.

The Confederation clarified that the partitions used in many high-end AC sleeper buses are full-length, easily openable doors, operable from both driver and passenger sides. According to BOCI, removing these doors could:

• Increase engine noise inside the passenger cabin
• Cause external light glare
• Reduce passenger comfort during long-distance travel

BOCI maintained that retaining such doors does not compromise safety and is operationally more practical for premium sleeper services.

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Engagement With Technical Agencies Underway

BOCI informed the NHRC that its National President Prasanna Patwardhan, along with the National Executive Committee, is actively engaging with technical bodies such as ARAI and CIRT to evolve technically sound and practically implementable safety solutions.

The Confederation said it remains committed to improving safety standards while ensuring the sustainability of intercity sleeper bus operations that serve millions of passengers across India.