Hyderabad: 50% buses operate without fire equipment; 143 cases booked, five coaches seized

Hyderabad: Surprise checks by the Telangana Transport Department have uncovered alarming lapses in passenger safety among private bus operators.

Over 50 percent of the buses in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal, and Malkajgiri districts were found operating without mandatory fire safety equipment, including extinguishers and emergency hammers.

The enforcement action follows the recent Kurnool bus fire tragedy, which claimed 19 lives and prompted a statewide crackdown.

143 cases booked, five buses seized

Between October 25 and 27, transport authorities conducted surprise inspections across the districts, booking 143 cases, collecting Rs 3.06 lakh in compounding fees, and seizing five buses for operating in violation of transport norms.

Officials said the findings highlight widespread negligence and serious breaches of basic safety standards. Senior officers personally monitored the drive to ensure compliance with fire and vehicle fitness norms.

Widespread violations detected

The inspections revealed a disturbing pattern of negligence. Several buses were found plying without fire extinguishers, reflective tapes, valid insurance, or passenger lists.

Some operators had also altered seating layouts into sleeper configurations or carried commercial goods, both of which violate safety and permit conditions.

Joint Transport Commissioner Ch. Ramesh said, “Operators are ignoring even the most basic safety standards. We’ve initiated strict action against violators,” emphasizing that passenger safety remains the top priority of the department.

Illegal Cargo Transport in Passenger Buses

The Kurnool incident has also exposed a disturbing trend of illegal cargo transport in passenger buses. Investigations revealed that the Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus that caught fire was carrying over 400 mobile phones.

Officials said several private operators routinely use passenger buses to ferry goods such as electronics, fertilizers, iron materials, and textiles, particularly on low-demand days.

At Hyderabad’s Imlibun Bus Station, Cargo Transport Officer Badri Narayana confirmed that multiple buses were caught carrying excess or hazardous cargo. “Using passenger buses as cargo carriers increases fire risk and endangers lives,” he warned.

Speeding and Reckless driving under scrutiny

Another major concern emerging from the inspections was overspeeding. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, private buses must not exceed 80 km/h on highways. However, several were found traveling beyond 120 km/h.

“Drivers lose control when vehicles are overloaded or speeding, leading to catastrophic accidents,” said Ramesh, adding that authorities are deploying real-time tracking systems to monitor and penalize speeding violations.

Out-of-state registrations raise safety concerns

Officials also flagged the widespread misuse of out-of-state registrations. Nearly 70–80% of private buses operating in Telugu-speaking states are registered in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura to exploit lower tax rates.

While the One India, One Permit policy allows interstate operations, many operators misuse All-India Tourist Permits, registering buses as contract carriers but running them illegally as regular passenger services.

“Several accident-prone buses were registered in these states and escaped genuine fitness checks,” a senior transport official revealed. Authorities also detected unauthorized sleeper bus conversions, where seating coaches were modified without approval—an unsafe and illegal practice.

Focus on Continuous Enforcement

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Transport Departments have pledged to sustain strict vigilance on private bus operations. Key focus areas include: Vehicle fitness and fire safety compliance, cargo restrictions and permit misuse prevention, and speed monitoring and enforcement of safety norms.

“Passenger safety will not be compromised,” officials asserted. “We are tightening enforcement and increasing inspection frequency to ensure every bus meets required safety standards.”