DCP: Operator, school to face action if buses ferrying kids sans nod

Nagpur: The Traffic Department of the city police drew a clear line on illegal school transportation, warning of strict action against unauthorised vehicles ferrying students and directing schools to ensure full compliance with transport norms.Speaking after a review meeting on Thursday, DCP (Traffic) Lohit Matani told TOI that separate enforcement teams have been constituted for city and rural to check violations.
"Both teams will have police and RTO officials who will soon start carrying out drives against illegal school transport vehicles. The action will be intensified after ongoing examinations conclude," said Matani.Matani said the first priority will be vehicles illegally operating as school transport — those ferrying children like public transport vehicles and charging fees without possessing valid permits. Secondly, even vehicles holding school bus permits but operating without a formal agreement with the concerned school will also face action."We clearly informed schools in the previous meeting that they must specify which vehicles are officially authorised to transport their students — whether school-owned buses or private operators," Matani said.The DCP stressed that if a vehicle is transporting students of a particular school, it must be officially recognised by that school through a formal agreement. "Schools will have to inform parents which buses are officially recognised. Parents should send their children only through authorised vehicles," he said.If a school has largely compliant transport arrangements but a stray vehicle is found operating without authorisation, action will be taken against that operator. However, if inspections reveal that a majority of buses ferrying students to a school are unauthorised, the Traffic Department will submit a report to the Education Officer for further action against the institution.The move comes amid growing concerns over student safety and unregulated private operators functioning without action.On September 12, last year, a tragic accident was reported in which a school van and a school bus collided head-on, leading to the deaths of student Sanvi Khobragade and the van driver on Mankapur Flyover. Investigations had revealed that the school van was operating without a valid fitness certificate and other mandatory documents.The incident had sparked major uproar among parents and citizens. Following this, the issue was also raised in the last winter session of Maharashtra Legislature, on safety of students, forcing transport minister Pratap Sarnaik to suspend senior RTO officer and announcing multiple measures. Even before this multiple violations have been reported in school transport vehicles, which puts lives of children at risk. Despite actions, violation continues on the ground.