3 Things Bus reforms face hurdles, returning to the moon, and Malda protests
23 snips
Apr 3, 2026 Amitabh Sinha, a science writer covering space who explains NASA’s Artemis II lunar flyby and broader return-to-the-moon plans. Parul Kulshrestha, an industry reporter who outlines how tougher safety norms have stalled Rajasthan’s sleeper-bus workshops and threatened livelihoods. They also touch on judicial safety concerns after a violent incident in Malda and the Supreme Court’s stringent response.
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Compliance Shock Hits Small Bus Bodybuilders
- New bus body rules shift licensing burden to small bodybuilders rather than chassis makers.
- Parul Kulshrestha reports bodybuilders must now buy 45–50 lakh rupee chassis and face ~1 crore compliance costs versus earlier ₹60,000 fees.
Workshops Admitted Putting Seats Over Emergency Exits
- Some workshops admit owners pressure them to remove emergency doors and add seats to increase revenue.
- Parul Kulshrestha recounts builders saying they often install a seat where an emergency exit should be under owner pressure.
Livelihood Risk For Generational Carpenters
- The trade employs multi-generational illiterate artisans whose livelihoods now vanish as work stops across states.
- Parul Kulshrestha describes Suthar community carpenters earning ~₹25,000–30,000 monthly and now shifting to low-paid construction work.