Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced a major update to the state’s school bus policy. He said the changes will improve the safety and comfort of students. The government will revise the 2011 rules.
Currently, around 40,000 licensed school buses and cars are running in the state. But the School Bus Association says that an additional 50,000 to 60,000 unlicensed vehicles are also being used. Many of them are unsafe for children.
The announcement was made during a high-level meeting at Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium. Officials from the School Bus Association, the Parents Association, and Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar were present.
As per reports, Sarnaik said there will be no compromise on student safety. He warned that all school bus drivers must follow safety rules. He also said the department will consider suggestions from parents and driver groups. But violators will not be protected.
The minister said that unlicensed vehicle owners will get three months to register with their local RTOs. They will also need to pay the required fines. After this deadline, strict action will be taken. Any RTO officer found helping violators will face disciplinary steps.
Interestingly, Maharashtra was the first state to have a special school bus policy. He promised that all suggestions from the meeting will be studied. He said the department will fix the gaps in the current system during the revision.
As per sources, parents demanded some safety tools in school buses. These include CCTV cameras, female attendants, and a panic button for emergencies.
Since 2008, the transport department has issued many rules for school bus safety. Important guidelines were released in July 2008, March 2011, and again in 2013. Many of these have been updated over time. But there are still problems in how these rules are followed.
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