Schools in the state have reopened on Monday, October 4, after several months. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had issued strict Standard Operation Procedures (SoPs) for schools amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The bus operators', however, feel helpless as there are no SOPs announced by the Maharashtra government for school buses yet. Anil Garg, president of School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA), Maharashtra, while addressing the media, questioned that has the state government forgotten about them and that how will students living far away travel to school.
He further said that if the government has resumed schools only for students living nearby or if they want the parents to take up the responsibility of transport by themselves. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the students are not allowed to use public transport and buses. Students staying far away can have all the services available if school buses are allowed, he added.
Garg said that they are appealing to the government to restart bus services as they have suffered losses in the past one-and-a-half years due to lockdown.
Reportedly, due to the online lectures amid the lockdown, school bus owners and employees have suffered losses of around Rs. 3,000 crore in the state. The traffic police are also charging fine to stationery buses.
The government has not taken any decision on school buses yet; however, once they make a decision, it will be conveyed to them, said officials from the state education department.
Also read: Schools In Mumbai Reopen For Grades 8 To 12
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