Gadkari Warns: Illegal Modification in Buses Punishable by Jail

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari warns that anyone operating or modifying sleeper buses against the new AIS 153 bus body code will face jail, as India cracks down on unsafe buses and frequent fire incidents.

India’s intercity bus sector is once again under intense scrutiny after a series of frequent bus fires and mounting evidence of illegal sleeper bus modifications that have cost dozens of lives.

In October alone, two horrific incidents, one in Jaisalmer and another in Kurnool, claimed 42 lives, reigniting debate over the safety of India’s long-distance private bus network.

Since 2013, India has witnessed at least seven major bus fire tragedies claiming over 130 lives, along with numerous smaller fires and near-misses that never even made the headlines.

We had earlier reported that between October 10 and October 24 alone, India witnessed 12 separate instances of bus fires, underscoring the growing urgency for stricter safety enforcement.

Transport safety experts have called for a blanket ban on sleeper buses, labelling many of them “death traps on wheels.” They warn that unregulated fabrications, poor materials, and unsafe electrical systems are turning long-haul coaches into fire hazards.

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Gadkari Issues Stern Warning to Bus Operators

Amid nationwide outrage over unsafe and illegally modified sleeper buses, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has issued a direct warning to all operators, builders, and owners in the bus industry.

Speaking to News18, Nitin Gadkari on sleeper buses stated that the newly amended AIS 153 bus body code, developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, will play a decisive role in preventing bus fires and ensuring safer passenger travel across India.

He emphasized that all buses in India must comply with the new code without exception.

“Anyone found using buses made or modified against the code will be sent directly to jail,” Gadkari warned, adding that the law now includes strict penalties and jailable offences for violation.

The AIS 153 new bus body code, which came into force on September 1, represents a major shift toward standardized design and higher safety in India’s bus manufacturing sector.

Framed under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), the AIS 153 guidelines define how buses must be designed, built, and tested, ensuring uniform safety, quality, and passenger comfort regardless of the fabricator.

Along with setting standards for noise, vibration, and harshness levels, the new bus body code also specifies requirements for fire safety systems and emergency exits, among other measures, to ensure greater passenger safety during long journeys in sleeper buses.

Together, these provisions aim to make sleeper and intercity buses safer, more reliable, and more consistent with international norms.

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With the government tightening enforcement, illegal modification in sleeper buses is now a jailable offence. The Ministry has made it clear that safety shortcuts will no longer be tolerated.

As India pushes for safer roads and smarter mobility, the AIS 153 bus body code could become the turning point in restoring public trust in long-distance travel, preventing tragedies like Jaisalmer and Kurnool from ever happening again.