RTOs to expedite school bus checks in Mumbai

The School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) has decided to make use of the time before the new academic year begins to ensure that school buses in the city are in a fit condition for plying. Out of the 7,000-odd school buses in operation, around 25 per cent of them have been running on the roads despite not having the mandatory fitness certificate.

According to sources, the issue of the fitness of school buses was discussed in a meeting held with officials from the transport department. The buses are inspected at RTOs and according to the rules, one RTO officer can check only 40 buses per day.

The owner of a school bus service said, "We have now asked the transport department to allot one RTO officer solely for the fitness inspection of school buses. After all it is the matter of safety for school kids."

Over the next one month, the RTO has a big task ahead. "The inspection of vehicles is done after taking an online appointment. Another way of checking the school buses is during public holidays and Sundays where they can line up for detailed inspection. It's not that the buses are dangerous to ply on the road but the fitness certificate documents that a vehicle is fit to run on the road," said a RTO officer.

The SBOA also fears that a few international schools, that function during May, will have fewer buses to ferry children. Anil Garg, Chairman, SBOA, said, "These schools have their internal exams. We cannot put students in trouble by stopping their transportation. Hence many school buses are running on the roads without fitness certificates. We can only hope that there is no untoward incident".

The RTOs have been asked to setup a proper test track wherein the fitness of all vehicles is done. 

Meanwhile, the four RTOs at Tardeo, Andheri, Wadala and Borivali are scouting for space and setting them up. They have been given an extension by the Bombay High Court for setting up the test tracks.

FITNESS CHECK

• It is mandatory for vehicles to have a fitness certificate that states that it can run on the road and ensures there were no technical issues at the time of inspection.
   
• School buses are required to undergo this check annually.