Ministry Tightens Bus-Body Maker Rules: Small Units Fear Closure

Udaipur, Jan 13, 2026 - Following a series of horrifying fire incidents in sleeper coach buses, the Union Ministry of Road Transport has taken the decision to allow only automobile companies or government-recognised manufacturers to build the body of buses.

In the last six months, six major fire incidents involving sleeper coach buses across different parts of the country have resulted in the tragic deaths of 145 passengers. In view of this, the Transport Ministry believes that existing sleeper buses must be upgraded to new safety standards. The upgrades should include mandatory installation of fire detection systems, emergency exits, emergency lightings and driver drowsiness indicators to ensure timely evacuation of passengers during accidents.

While the move is being justified in the interest of passenger safety, an important question arises: won’t such a move impact the business of small and medium-scale industries? Is it right to allow them to suffer?

This government decision has sparked strong resentment among motor body builders in Udaipur and the surrounding divisions. They argue that manufacturing errors are not limited to body builders alone; automobile companies are equally responsible for defects. So why this policy?

The UdaipurTimes team spoke to Vijay Ram Sharma, owner of Vikas Body Builders located at Bhuwana Bypass, Udaipur. Expressing strong discontent, he said that it appears the government is moving toward shutting down small factories and handing over work to large corporations. This decision could force small and medium-scale units to close, he believes.

Sharma explained that more than 100 bus body manufacturing units operate in Udaipur, Rajsamand and Nathdwara regions. Small workshops manufacture 3-4 bus bodies annually, while larger units produce 15 to 20. Each factory provides employment to at least 50 people, including engineers, mechanics, helpers and labourers. Additionally, there are manufacturers and suppliers of related equipment who are also involved in the production. The livelihood of all of the above persons will be negatively affected by this new decision of the government, Sharma says.

Another body manufacturer, Kiran Kumar Suthar, who is the owner of Satyanarayan Motors in Bhuwana, told The UdaipurTimes that nearly 90% of the bus body manufacturing industry would be destroyed if this policy is implemented. He questioned whether the government can guarantee that bus bodies manufactured by automobile or recognised companies will never catch fire. He also said that automobile companies often use fibre materials, which, according to him, pose a higher fire risk in comparison with the iron sheets used by local body makers.

Suthar stressed that they are fully prepared to comply with all safety standards. He also urged that the government, while enforcing safety norms, should also create a simplified recognition process for small, medium and large factories alike to protect employment and the industry.

He added that after the bus body construction, it is the responsibility of the government and RTO to inspect and approve vehicles based on safety standards. If a bus body fails to meet these norms, it can be rejected or sent for reconstruction. Restricting bus body manufacturing to only automobile and recognised companies is a direct blow to others’ livelihood.

No Open Protest Yet

Although there is widespread resentment among bus body makers regarding the Transport Ministry’s decision, no formal appeal or memorandum has yet been submitted to the government. Sharma and Suthar shared that the community of body makers is neither organised nor sufficiently aware. They urged all motor body builders to seriously deliberate on the issue, warning that silence today could threaten the very existence of their factories.

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