India's Draft V2V Communication Rules: What Bus Operators Should Know
India has proposed making vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems mandatory in new motor vehicles. On 3 August 2026, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, so that V2V systems conforming to the new AIS-230 standard are phased in from October 2027.
The proposal covers vehicle categories L, M and N. Category M covers passenger-carrying vehicles, so buses are in scope. The rules are still a draft: MoRTH will examine comments after a 30-day consultation period and then issue the final notification.
What the draft proposes
The draft sets two dates, according to the MoRTH press release published by PIB :
- 1 October 2027: vehicles manufactured on or after this date that are fitted with V2V communication systems must comply with AIS-230.
- 1 October 2028: vehicles manufactured on or after this date must be fitted with V2V communication systems conforming to AIS-230.
AIS-230 sets minimum technical, functional, performance, environmental and security requirements for V2V systems on Indian roads. It covers factory-installed on-board units that use Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz band. The Department of Telecommunications exempted that band from licensing requirements through G.S.R. 466(E), dated 10 June 2026.
The standard’s main requirements cover radio performance, satellite positioning, electrical supply, electromagnetic compatibility, cybersecurity and the performance of road-safety applications. It also provides for a phased introduction of safety use cases, including:
- emergency brake alerts;
- forward collision warnings;
- wrong-way driving warnings; and
- emergency vehicle alerts.
How V2V works
V2V lets nearby vehicles exchange real-time information such as speed, position, direction and acceleration. A receiving vehicle can use that information to warn the driver, or its own systems, about a safety-critical situation.
Onboard sensors such as cameras and radar can only detect what they can see. V2V messages can carry information from beyond the driver’s direct line of sight, such as a vehicle braking hard several cars ahead. MoRTH expects V2V to complement Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), not replace them.
How it differs from AIS-140 vehicle tracking
Most Indian bus operators already work with AIS-140, the standard for vehicle location tracking devices and emergency buttons. The two technologies serve different purposes:
- AIS-140 tracking reports a vehicle’s location to a backend system, where operators and authorities can monitor it.
- V2V communication exchanges short-range safety messages directly between nearby vehicles, so drivers can receive warnings in time to react.
The PIB release does not say that V2V replaces any existing tracking requirement. Operators should expect to run both.
What it means for bus operators
The obligation in the draft falls on vehicles at manufacture, so bus manufacturers will do most of the compliance work. Operators will still feel the effects in procurement, operations and maintenance.
Check delivery dates in bus procurement
A bus fleet bought today may be delivered over several years. If deliveries extend past 1 October 2028, some buses in the same order would need factory-fitted V2V units and others would not. Operators and procuring authorities should ask manufacturers how they plan to meet AIS-230, and how the final rules will be handled if they change the proposed dates.
Expect mixed fleets for years
The draft applies to vehicles manufactured on or after the stated dates. Buses already in service, and buses built before October 2028, are not required to carry V2V units. Because V2V depends on nearby vehicles also being equipped, its safety value should grow gradually as fleets of all vehicle types are renewed.
Prepare drivers for new warnings
V2V warnings reach the driver while the bus is moving. Operators will need to include these alerts in driver training, explain what each warning means and agree on how drivers should respond. Driver feedback during early deployments will help operators find warnings that are unclear or poorly timed.
Plan maintenance and cybersecurity responsibilities
A V2V on-board unit is another safety-related electronic system on the bus. AIS-230 includes cybersecurity and communication-security provisions, but day-to-day responsibility still needs to be agreed. Maintenance contracts should state who diagnoses faults, who replaces units and who applies software updates.
Coordinate with existing onboard systems
Many city and intercity buses already carry tracking devices, CCTV, passenger information displays, ticketing equipment and passenger counting sensors. A factory-fitted V2V unit adds another system that needs power, antennas and satellite positioning. Operators that add their own equipment after delivery should coordinate installations with the manufacturer so that retrofits do not interfere with the V2V unit.
Do not assume control-room access to V2V data
The draft focuses on safety messages exchanged between vehicles. It does not set out whether operators will be able to use V2V data in their control rooms or planning systems. Operators should keep relying on their existing tracking, ticketing and passenger data for operational decisions until the final rules and standard say otherwise.
What to watch next
The proposal can still change before it becomes law. Bus operators should follow:
- the final notification and any changes to the proposed dates or vehicle categories;
- the final text of AIS-230 and its phased safety use cases; and
- how bus procurement specifications and tenders refer to V2V once the rules are final.
V2V is designed to improve road safety. Day-to-day service decisions will still depend on knowing where buses are and how many passengers they carry. Read how operators use real-time occupancy data to improve the passenger experience , or explore WEBREATHE’s passenger counting and vehicle-tracking features .
Source: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, “Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Systems” , Press Information Bureau, 3 August 2026.
