Politician-babu nexus to blame for violation of rules: School Bus Owners Association

Politicians’ involvement in schools’ transportation business, including the running of small vans, is one of the reasons for non-implementation of central rules on allowing only 13 or more seater capacity vehicles like school buses, alleges School Bus Owners Association (SBOA).

Not just the SBOA, Parent-Teachers’ Associations too allege that the state Motor Vehicle Act, allowing seven-seater vehicles including small vans to ferry school children as school bus, are in violation of norms.

Anil Garg from SBOA said, “The main reason behind non-implementation of central rules is because of the nexus between the official concerned and politicians running this business. We even met the transport commissioner a few months back to request him to stop giving permits to small vans, but to no avail. Small vans that carry children beyond their seating capacity lead to corruption.”

Echoing the sentiments, United Forum PTA president Arundhati Chavan said, “Our forum had gone to court demanding 13-seater school buses. The government officials permit small vans to ferry children where the seating capacity is seven. But it is not monitored well and van owners are risking the lives of children by allowing more number of students in a van. If they cannot implement rules, they should at least be vigilant about the existing rule and not allow such violations.”