Both the agencies will now keep a tight vigil on school buses and check their permit and drivers' experience to ensure the safety of students
The Navi Mumbai Police's Traffic Department and Regional Transport Office (RTO) have decided to come down heavily on school buses plying across the city, after a nine-year-old boy was run over by a private school bus in Nerul on Monday.
Both the agencies will now keep a tight vigil on school buses and check their permit and drivers' experience to ensure the safety of students.
On Tuesday, Samved Tarakara, a student of Class 2 was knocked down by a school bus when he was crossing the road after alighting from his school bus. He was hit by the other bus which was also carrying schoolchildren.
Nitin Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said, "From now, we will conduct surprise checks on school buses to find out if they are violating any norms. Safety of the students is our first priority. If any bus or transport agency is found violating the norms, we will take action against them under the Motor Vehicle Act. Not only that, their permit will also be cancelled."
The Maharashtra State government has clear guidelines for schools buses, but they are found flouting norms, says education activist Anuj Pandey. "Installation of speed governor is mandatory but most schools do not have it," said Pandey. However, the bus that hit the student on Monday had the permit issued by the Vashi RTO to ferry school children, a senior officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pawar said, "As per the norm, there must be a committee to monitor the entire system of ferrying schoolchildren. Superintendent of police of that district, or the police commissioner of the city should be the president of the committee. The deputy RTO officer of that area should be the secretary of it. The managers of the transport companies, officials from the local civic boy and education officers of the Zilla Parishad should also be included in that committee."
The notification also says that a driver driving school buses should have experience of at least five years. The school should provide proper pick up and drop place.
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