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After the Bengaluru-bound private sleeper bus tragedy in Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh that claimed 19 lives in the early hours of Friday, the Karnataka government is set to issue a circular mandating enhanced safety measures in all passenger buses, including an additional emergency exit door and more fire extinguishers. Speaking to The Hindu, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the Transport Department will issue a circular on Monday directing both private and state-run bus operators to ensure the installation of extra emergency exit doors. “Currently, most premium and sleeper buses are fully enclosed, with only two main doors one near the driver’s seat and another for passengers. Some models have an emergency exit at the rear, but that is not sufficient. We have decided to make it mandatory for all buses to have an additional emergency door for quicker evacuation during accidents,” he said. Mr. Reddy pointed out that in many premium buses, especially sleeper coaches, windows are designed to double as emergency exits by breaking the glass using hammers placed beside them. However, he said that during panic situations, passengers may not be aware of such options. “In tragic incidents, passengers tend to rush toward the main exit, leading to chaos and delay. Multiple emergency doors will make evacuation quicker and safer,” he said. Inflammable material The Minister added that the department will also make it compulsory for all buses to carry multiple fire extinguishers as part of precautionary safety measures. “At present, most buses have only one or two fire extinguishers, usually kept near the driver’s seat. The new rule will ensure that extinguishers are placed at multiple accessible points within the bus,” he said. Mr. Reddy noted that similar safety rules were first introduced when he held the Transport portfolio in 2013, following another horrific bus fire on the Bengaluru–Hyderabad National Highway that killed 45 passengers. “We had then brought in several safety norms, but there is a need for more proactive implementation. This circular will ensure that precautionary measures are strictly enforced,” he said. He further stated that officials have been directed to intensify checks to prevent buses from carrying inflammable materials in the luggage storage compartment beneath the passenger cabin or anywhere in the buses. “We will not allow any compromise on passenger safety,” he added. Buses seized Meanwhile, in a special operation on Friday, officials of the Transport Department seized over 30 private buses at the Attibele check post on the outskirts of Bengaluru for operating without paying the mandatory Karnataka State Road Tax. Additional Transport Commissioner Omkareshwari said, “The buses, registered in other States, had only paid their home-State taxes and were found plying commercially in Karnataka after paying just the application fee and not paying the Karnataka State Road Tax..” The official added that these buses were detained at checkpoints near the Karnataka border. To ensure passengers were not inconvenienced, the department arranged Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation(BMTC) buses to ferry them to their destinations. “Necessary directions have been issued to ensure no money is collected from passengers and that they are safely dropped off at their designated stops,” Ms. Omkareshwari said.
