60 per cent of Budapest’s BKV buses are in critical condition and unfit for safe travel, according to findings presented by Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development Csaba Latorcai. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he warned that the capital cannot currently guarantee safe public transport for passengers.
The inspections were launched after several buses caught fire in the summer. Initial spot checks and a broader review by the Budapest Government Office revealed severe deficiencies: a lack of proper maintenance, faults in braking and steering systems, worn tires, and oil leaks from engines and gearboxes. In some cases, buses lacked even fire extinguishers.
So far, 106 of the fleet’s 1,200 buses have been examined, with 60 per cent withdrawn from service or ordered back for inspection within 30 days. Only four out of ten buses meet safety standards.
Latorcai stressed that the government office will enforce compliance if city leadership fails to act, accusing Mayor Gergely Karácsony and his coalition of neglecting passenger safety. He contrasted the current budget with the previous mayoralty, when ten billion forints were spent annually on maintenance, compared to only one billion today.
Budapest Chief Administrator Botond Sára added that checks are being scheduled to minimize disruption to passengers, but will continue for months. He also noted the absence of fire safety documentation, raising concerns about whether such inspections were ever carried out.
To involve citizens, a new website will be launched to collect photos of buses in poor condition. Passengers are also urged to send reports with license plate numbers to a designated government email address.
Officials emphasized that the goal is not to paralyse public transport but to ensure Budapest residents can travel with maximum safety.
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