Delhi government issues fresh safety directives for all bus operators
The Delhi government has issued fresh directions to all bus operators in the capital, including buses from other states, to strictly follow passenger safety and operational norms, with the Transport Department placing special focus on the safety of women and children and warning that violations will invite action under the law.
Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said passenger safety is "non-negotiable" and that safety measures must work on the ground, not just remain on paper. "Safety measures must be implemented in letter and spirit, not merely on paper. Bus operators must ensure that all required systems, equipment and procedures are in place and functioning properly," he said.
The directions, issued by the Transport Department in the interest of passenger safety and security, apply to all bus operators, including buses from other states plying or operating in Delhi, an official said. The minister said the government will take strict action against violations, and the Transport Department will undertake enforcement action to check compliance with these directions and other applicable provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the rules made thereunder.
Mandatory equipment and operational norms
Following the instructions of the minister, the Transport Department has directed every bus operator to ensure that Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) and panic buttons remain functional and operational at all times, an official statement said. Panic buttons must be easily accessible to passengers and maintained in proper working condition. All buses must also carry serviceable fire extinguishers and first-aid kits.
Operators have further been directed to ensure that buses are parked during night or idle hours only at authorised, secure and adequately lit locations. Curtains and unauthorised films on windows have been prohibited, with prescribed visibility standards to be maintained.
Every bus shall possess a valid Fitness Certificate and shall be mechanically fit, and operators must ensure compliance with applicable emission norms and carry a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate. Bus operators have further been directed to follow applicable traffic rules and designated bus lanes. Passenger boarding and alighting must take place only at designated bus stops or authorised locations, and stopping at unsafe or unauthorised locations, particularly in the middle of roads or at intersections, is strictly prohibited. All doors must remain securely closed when the bus is moving.
Crew conduct and passenger safety
The government has made it mandatory for drivers and bus staff to behave courteously with passengers. Driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances has been strictly prohibited. Drivers and conductors must carry valid licences, uniforms and PSV badges wherever required, while operators must verify all staff before deployment.
Special instructions have been issued for the safety of women passengers. In cases of harassment, molestation, eve-teasing or any other offence, bus crews must immediately inform the police and take the bus to the nearest police station, police post or PCR van. Crews have also been directed to assist passengers with disabilities while boarding and getting off buses.
Bus operators have also been directed to circulate these instructions among their drivers and staff and ensure strict compliance, the minister said. Special emphasis has been placed on the safety and security of women and children, and violations may invite action in accordance with the law.
Pankaj Kumar Singh said the Delhi Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is committed to strengthening passenger safety across the public transport ecosystem and ensuring that mandatory safety norms are effectively implemented on the ground.
Context: alleged assault on sleeper bus
The directives come after a 17-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh was allegedly gang-raped on a sleeper bus while travelling from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh to Noida on the night of August 4. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North District Niharika Bhatt said the girl approached Kashmiri Gate police station after being dropped on Ring Road by the accused. "During questioning, it was revealed that she was travelling from Mainpuri, UP, to a relative's house in Sector 63, Noida. The rape occurred en route between Pari Chowk (Greater Noida) and Sector 63, Noida," Bhatt told ANI.
Delhi Police arrested the bus driver and conductor in connection with the alleged gang-rape, according to ANI.
Violations of the new directions can lead to penalties, detention or impounding of vehicles and even suspension or cancellation of licences and permits, the Transport Department said.