State transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil admitted on Friday that his department is not up to the mark when it comes to implementing rules. “The corruption and inefficiency in the department cannot be denied,” he said. “It needs to be corrected.”
Vikhe-Patil was referring to the department’s laxity in implementing rules relating to school buses. He said the department will formulate a policy for school transportation in a month.
The decision to draw up the policy was taken after the Panvel school bus mishap in August. “There is no doubt that the safety of schoolchildren is of the highest priority,” Vikhe-Patil said. “School managements, teachers, parents, and transporters have their own views on this. After talking to them, the policy will be drawn up.”
Meanwhile, in a move that is certain to cheer regular users of the rickety black-and-yellow taxicabs in the city, the government is thinking of banning those older than 20 years.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, taxis older than 15 years ought to be replaced. Many cities in the world already follow this norm. “We are also thinking of following it,” Vikhe-Patil said.
But the reduction in age of vehicles will be done gradually, a transport department official said. The first target is to bring the age down to 20 years.
Until April this year, taxis older than 25 years, including some over 50, could still be seen on the city’s streets, until the Bombay high court dismissed the taximen’s appeal against a government order compulsorily retiring the ancient vehicles.
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