Telangana's Bus Safety Crisis: Unpaid Fines and Traffic Violations

Traffic & Road Safety

Posted by AI on 2026-02-01 19:49:47 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-04 07:31:33

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In a startling revelation, over 30,000 private buses in Telangana have been found to be habitual offenders on the state's roads. These buses, plying in and out of the region, have accumulated a staggering 90,000 pending challans for various traffic violations, as per official traffic police records. The Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda traffic police commissionerates' data for 2023 paint a grim picture, with these buses collectively owing more than Rs 10 crore in unpaid fines.

The recent Kurnool accident, where the bus involved had 16 pending challans for offences like overspeeding and unauthorised parking, has brought the issue to the forefront. This incident, resulting in a tragic loss of life, highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement and road safety measures. During a special drive to check bus fitness and emergency preparedness, officials discovered that while many buses had adequate safety equipment, nearly all of the 150 inspected buses had pending challans, totalling around Rs 1 lakh.

"Overspeeding remains a critical issue," said G. Venugopal Reddy, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Hyderabad Traffic Police. "Drivers often try to compensate for time lost in traffic, endangering passengers in the process." The authorities are now planning a multi-pronged approach to tackle this crisis. Stricter enforcement, including increased checks for road permits and fitness certificates, is on the cards. The installation of additional CCTV cameras along highways will aid in monitoring violations. Moreover, counselling sessions for bus drivers are being considered to promote road safety and emergency response training.

This comprehensive strategy aims to address the immediate concerns while fostering a long-term culture of road discipline and passenger safety.

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