Budapest’s Metropolitan Government Office is maintaining heightened inspections of the Budapest Transport Privately Held Corporation (BKV) bus fleet to guarantee passenger safety and ensure proper vehicle maintenance, Chief Administrator Botond Sára announced in a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

He noted that the inspections remain ongoing, with the goal of ensuring that passengers can travel as safely as possible. Sára recalled that four buses caught fire in Budapest over a short period during the summer, prompting him to order an immediate technical review. During an initial spot check, three out of four buses failed the technical examination due to serious deficiencies. ‘The only responsible course of action was to inspect every BKV bus, around 1,400 vehicles,’ he said.

According to Sára, the city bears responsibility for ensuring proper maintenance, yet early checks showed this was not being adequately carried out. He stressed that maintenance must be enforced to guarantee safe operation.

So far, inspectors have examined roughly half of the 1,400-strong fleet, and one-third of the reviewed buses had technical faults or were found non-compliant with regulations, issues that fundamentally jeopardize safe travel, he explained.

‘To achieve our goal, which is ensuring maximum safety for Budapest residents, we will inspect the other half of the fleet as well. Wherever we find deficiencies, we will require the transport company and the city leadership to correct them,’ Sára added.

According to the Metropolitan Government Office, 32 per cent of the buses inspected since the comprehensive checks began on 18 August have shown technical problems. The most common issues include oil leaks from engines and gearboxes, inadequate sealing of fuel systems—both posing fire risks—coolant leaks, poor braking performance, worn tyres, and defects in steering and suspension systems.

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