*Key Meeting with Bus Operators Held in Lucknow – Strict Message from Transport Commissioner on Road Safety, Permit Violations, Overloading and Fitness*

Date: 27 June, 2025

Key Meeting with Bus Operators Held in Lucknow – Strict Message from Transport Commissioner on Road Safety, Permit Violations, Overloading and Fitness

(Ashish Singhal)

On 27 June 2025, a high-level meeting was held in Lucknow between the Transport Department and transporters/bus operators under the chairmanship of Transport Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Brajesh Narayan Singh. Senior departmental officials including Shri A.K. Vishwakarma (Additional Transport Commissioner – Revenue), Shri Sanjay Singh (Additional Transport Commissioner – Enforcement), Shri Mayank Jyoti (Additional Transport Commissioner – Road Safety), Shri Sagir Ahmad Ansari (Secretary, State Transport Authority), Shri Radheshyam (Deputy Transport Commissioner, Lucknow Region), and Shri Prabhat Pandey (Regional Transport Officer – Enforcement, Lucknow) were also present.

The objective of the meeting was to sensitise the transport unions about recent bus accidents, permit violations, and to share the government’s new schemes for private bus stands, along with the urgent need to train drivers and strictly follow transport and traffic regulations.

It was clearly conveyed that the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has set an ambitious target to reduce road accident fatalities and injuries by 50%. The department is taking serious enforcement and reform initiatives to meet this target. Transport associations were informed that several recent accidents have been caused by fatigue in drivers, overspeeding, lack of vehicle fitness, and non-compliance with rules.

Key issues emphasised in the meeting included:
1. Overloading and Pending Challans:
Many vehicles have dozens of pending challans, which worsens the legal situation in case of accidents. Vehicle owners were urged to clear their challans promptly to avoid enforcement action.
2. Safety of School Vehicles:
Ensuring safety of school children is a top priority. School vehicles without valid fitness certificates must not operate under any circumstances. A special month-long enforcement campaign is already underway in this regard.
3. Violation of Permit Terms – Unauthorized Stops:
It was stressed that contract carriage vehicles operating like stage carriages by picking up passengers at multiple locations are in gross violation of permit conditions. Strict action including suspension or cancellation of permits will be taken against such violations.

Highlights of government initiatives:
(A) The department shared that a policy has been notified to facilitate the establishment of private bus stands, so that buses do not need to halt unsafely on roadsides, which has been a cause of accidents.
(B) All long-distance buses must mandatorily deploy two drivers, especially to reduce risks due to driver fatigue.
(C) A structured driver training and awareness programme is being initiated by the department to improve professionalism and safety.

The Transport Commissioner clearly stated that preventing road accidents is a collective responsibility, and strict adherence to traffic rules is the only way to reduce incidents. He called on transporters to adopt a culture of compliance and professionalism. At the same time, he assured the associations that the department will act in a transparent, professional, and problem-solving manner, provided vehicle owners and drivers also discharge their responsibilities with accountability.

Transport Department, Uttar Pradesh – Towards Safe Mobility and Accountable Governance