Pune: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has established a dedicated portal and support cell to facilitate the certification process for bus body frame and interior manufacturers. These manufacturers are responsible for constructing the interior and exterior of buses over chassis provided by vehicle makers.
Cost Reduction and Faster Approvals
ARAI has significantly reduced the cost of comprehensive testing approval to Rs 14 lakh, which is 50% lower than the cost incurred by manufacturers from the unorganised sector. Furthermore, the time required for 'type approval' can now be expedited to a period ranging between 60 to 90 days, according to an official statement from ARAI.
Mandatory Certification Under Bus Body Code
Certification is mandatory for manufacturing bus bodies with a seating capacity of 13 passengers and above, excluding the driver, under the bus body code. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also mandated that buses with a seating capacity exceeding 22 passengers (excluding the driver) must comply with fire safety, emergency exits, structural safety, and passenger comfort norms. These regulations aim to standardize bus construction practices for special bus types, including school buses and sleeper coaches.
ARAI Director on Safety and Accessibility
Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI, stated, "We wanted to assist the builders of bus bodies in their certification process at all stages, including development and testing before they apply for certification. This would ensure that safety remains our utmost priority and consequently a reliable transport system for the public was developed in our country." He added, "We have introduced substantially optimised pricing structures to encourage widespread adoption of these services. We have aimed to make it easier, faster and cost-effective for all stakeholders to uphold the best standards of passenger safety."
New Registration Rules for Buses
In April, the highways ministry announced that new buses, including inter-city and sleeper coaches, cannot be registered by regional transport offices (RTOs) without inspection of all mandatory safety features. Vehicle manufacturers, bus body builders, and respective RTOs are required to upload a completed checklist on the Vahan portal, ensuring all stakeholders take necessary steps to comply with safety standards.
