School buses go off roads fearing challans

Ludhiana: As many as 119 school buses and vans were challaned, and eight impounded on the second day of a massive crackdown launched by the administration, Regional Transport Authority (RTA), and the police in the district on Tuesday. In the fear of being fined, as many school buses vanished from the roads, several students did not turn up in their schools. Many vans without permits were stationed at some distance from schools, and students were seen going on foot towards the vehicles.
One of the students stranded outside a school claimed, “The driver has parked his vehicle far away from the school, as there was no space outside the school. I do not know what happened today. Students were ready, and when they called the driver of the bus, their contact numbers were switched off. In our exam days, the drivers are showing irresponsible behaviour,” commented Rajni Madaan, a parent whose child is studying in a school situated on Chandigarh Road.
An RTA official claimed, “From our sources, we came to know that the drivers will not come out in the field today. No autorickshaws, vans, and buses came to pick up students. Parents have arranged alternative modes of transport for their children, like carpooling, and picking and dropping them on their own. There was large-scale absenteeism in schools, as drivers tried to escape from the situation.”
Mona Singh, principal of Guru Nanak Public School, Model Town Extension, said, “We did not have much of absenteeism, but parents were greatly inconvenienced today, because many buses did not ply, and no information was given to parents by private operators. So, after waiting for buses, many parents came to the schools to drop their wards. They were upset that buses stayed off the road without prior intimation.”
Major impact of drive
RTA official Damanjeet Singh Mann said, “There has been a major impact of the Safe School Vahan drive on the second day. Earlier, there were few cases, but this time the media has highlighted a lot about illegal plying buses. The Safe School Vahan is so well explained that even parents are aware about this. It is the talk of the town, and in fact, transport in-charges of schools have joined hands with the transport authorities. So, this will help us make the drive more effective. We checked many buses, but a few were not carrying fire extinguishers of a certain volume. In a school, they have 30 private vans, but for the past two days, they are not turning up.”
RTA authorities claim the buses of Sat Paul Mittal School situated in Dugri are in the best condition. Damanjeet said, “The buses of the school are in order, and they are not violating a single rule of the Safe Vahan policy. From fire extinguishers to first-aid kits, all have been updated. The driver even carries his name plate on his shirt.” Claiming to be a model for other schools, the authorities claim that the systematic approach by school authorities would help them.
School principal Bhupinder Gogia said, “We have 26 buses, and all are owned by the school management. We do not allow third party vendors, and we have instructed this to parents as well categorically. Our school management is visionary, and they have instructed drivers and conductors about the Safe School Vahan orders. More than 80% of our students commute in our buses, and the others come with their parents through carpooling.”
The principal added, “We check internal monitoring on a monthly basis, which includes auditing of buses and counselling by conducting seminars of drivers and conductors. We brush them up and preview the rules and regulations of policies to be abided by them. Also, because of less strength in the school, it is viable to manage with a systematic approach. Other schools might have their own challenges, but the law and government norms have to be followed.”
Experts advice to schools
BRS Nagar resident Kapil Arora, president of the Council of Engineers, said, “There should be no compromise on the safety of school-going children at any cost. All private schools take thousands of rupees in the name of development of infrastructure every year, but they have not purchased the desired number of school buses and vans. As required, the GPS system, a female caretaker, and cameras should be strictly complied with by schools, failing which just like roadside vendors, an FIR should be registered against school managements too.”
He added, “However, the strike by the School Bus Association is illegal, as it is just like blackmailing and creating undue pressure on authorities. The School Bus Association knows that it’s now examination time in all schools, and by such a strike, a panic will be created among all parents, and ultimately, RTA and traffic police will bow to their demand. It is now the duty of parents of all school-going children to raise their voices against such illegal strikes, as supporting any such strike means compromising with the safety of their own wards. Parents of students of the same locality, can do carpooling to pick up and drop their children to and from schools.”
Ludhiana Smart City director Sanjay Goel said, “Schools and their associates must always follow maximum discipline. If schools are not following discipline, then what we can expect from others? In buses, the safety of students is always most important.”