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Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
As schools set to reopen in state, buses still unfit to ferry students
Hyderabad: In view of the reopening of schools, vehicles transporting students must necessarily possess valid fitness certificates. As several thousands of buses are yet to obtain the certificates, the Transport department has ramped up fitness inspections of school buses to ensure student safety. Worried parents are feeling anxious with schools set to reopen on June 12, many school buses, which their children depend on for transportation, reportedly did not secure the required fitness certificates from the transport department for the academic year. According to the transport department, of the total 25,677 buses operated by educational institutions across the state, only 17,020 of these buses have obtained fitness certificates so far. As per the rules, an annual fitness certification is required for all vehicles, assessing their mechanical state and safety attributes prior to being authorised for student transportation. Joint Transport Commissioner (Vigilance & Enforcement) Mamindla Chandrasekhar Goud urged the remaining 8,657 buses to immediately obtain fitness certification from their respective transport department offices. The JTC has strictly warned that school buses older than 15 years must not be operated under any circumstances. 'If such aged or unfit vehicles are used to transport students, not only will the vehicles be seized, but legal action will also be initiated against the respective managements,' he added. Chandrasekhar reiterated that the responsibility of maintaining educational institution vehicles lies solely with the school management. He advised that buses must be kept in good condition and experienced drivers must be employed. He also added that there will be checks on vehicles carrying students beyond their permitted capacity. The Joint Transport Commissioner stated that special inspection drives have been ordered across all districts. District-level transport officials are conducting meetings with school managements and drivers in their respective areas, he added. Telangana Auto and Motor Welfare Union, General secretary M Dayanand said that as per the Motor Vehicles Act, bus drivers must have a valid heavy vehicle driving licence and be under 60 years of age. However, this has not been followed by the institutions, and they are hiring unprofessional drivers, he pointed out. Additionally, an attendant must accompany students on every trip. Buses must be equipped with essential safety items such as a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and up-to-date documentation, including registration papers and a valid fitness certificate. The Transport Vigilance & Enforcement wing must ensure that the safety guideline issued by the transport department must be followed to ensure the safety for the student's transportation, said Dayanand.
Indian Express
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Phasing out petrol, diesel vehicles from Mumbai will have cascading effect on economy: Govt to HC
The Maharashtra government on Monday told the Bombay High Court that phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles from the city would have a 'cascading effect' on a large number of people and the country's economy. The government said that an expert panel formed will require more time to submit a report on whether it will be feasible to phase out diesel and petrol-based vehicles from the roads of Mumbai and permit only those that run on CNG and electronic charge. The government informed a division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Makarand S Karnik that the five meetings of the committee, formed on January 21, have already been conducted and it is in process to gather requisite information from stakeholders and other affected parties. The government filed an affidavit filed through the Joint Transport Commissioner in response to suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) raising concerns over 'alarming' air pollution levels in Mumbai and surrounding areas, 'This policy will have a cascading effect on huge section of population and also economy of the country and hence, a detailed, in depth, exhaustive and extensive study will be required to be done which is time consuming and hence the said committee will require a longer time frame for arriving at its conclusive study,' the affidavit stated. On January 9, the HC had directed the formation of the committee consisting of experts, civil administrators, and those associated with the administration of traffic management to conduct the study within three months and submit a report to the court. The affidavit said that at present, the committee cannot give an outer limit for completion of the study but the same will be done in an expeditious manner. Meanwhile, Samadhan Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Mumbai in an affidavit in reply stated that a panel headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) has studied the traffic congestion on Western Express Highway (WEH) and identified congestion sites and suggested temporary and permanent measures to deal with the same. The affidavit stated that on WEH and Eastern Express Highway, total 93 places with traffic congestion have been identified and officer of senior police inspector/police inspector has been appointed as nodal officer at each such place to ensure there is no traffic congestion and to take required measures to control pollution with the help of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) officials. The HC will hear the matter next on April 29.
