This State Wants To Ban Private Sleeper Buses

In many states, people rely on long-route buses to commute from one place to another. Many operators even offer sleeper buses. We have also been coming across several reports of reckless driving by buses on highways and city roads, causing accidents. After a series of serious incidents, the Andhra Pradesh government is now considering putting a ban on certain private sleeper bus services.

The proposal to ban private sleeper buses was discussed during a recent cabinet sub-committee meeting, where road safety measures, accidents, and fatalities involving buses were reviewed. The meeting, held on 7th April, was attended by Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha.

During the meeting, officials stated that many sleeper buses currently operating on roads are actually modified and not built as sleeper buses at the factory. These conversions are often carried out by local workshops that do not follow basic safety and structural standards. Many buses do not even have proper emergency exits or adequate ventilation for passengers to escape in case of an accident or fire.

Minister Reddy said, “In the initial phase, the state government is assessing the option of banning sleeper buses that are not factory-built. We will also approach the Centre to seek regulatory action that could limit or completely prohibit the operation of unsafe sleeper coaches.”

In October 2025, a bus caught fire in Kurnool, killing 19 people travelling in it. Similar accidents were also reported in Maredumilli and Markapuram. During the investigation, it was revealed that these incidents were caused by human error or negligence.

The government is yet to take a final call on banning sleeper buses, but it is clear that there will be stricter inspections on roads in the coming days to ensure the safety of passengers and other road users.

One of the major causes of such accidents on Indian highways is speeding. To curb this, authorities have taken measures by introducing regulations on travel time based on the distance between the point of origin and the destination. If a bus reaches its destination before its scheduled time, it will not be allowed entry into the city.

This would force drivers to maintain a consistent speed and take breaks in between, ensuring they reach their destination safely and on time. Apart from this, the committee also proposed that all private buses operating on routes longer than 300 km must have two drivers and a dedicated off-duty seat for rest. This would be especially helpful for buses operating overnight.

Most buses on such long routes are often seen speeding at night. As mentioned in our previous articles, Indian highways can be unpredictable. Many roads are poorly lit at night, which increases the risks associated with night driving.

Driving a bus at high speed is not the same as driving a car. The chances of losing control are significantly higher, and if that happens, the driver is not only risking their own life but also the lives of passengers on board.