Noida: No fitness papers? 165 school buses are under govt’s watch

NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar transport department has planned to launch an enforcement drive as, according to it, around 165 school buses are running without fitness certificates in the district.
Siyaram Verma, assistant regional transport officer (ARTO-administration) of Gautam Budh Nagar, said there are 1,646 school buses registered in the district. The school buses should comply with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
“These buses must have a fitness certificate and a pollution under control (PUC ) certificate. We conducted an enforcement drive and issued 295 challans for various violations a few days ago. We also issued 99 challans for PUC violations and seized 81 buses. We have found that still 165 school buses don’t have fitness certificates,” he said.
The department, Verma said, will launch a drive and take strict action against the school buses violating the norms. The department has also blacklisted 379 school buses for non-payment of taxes, permit violations and issues in documentation also. “We will also take action against the blacklisted buses,” he said.
According to the Supreme Court guidelines, a school should designate one transport manager who will be entrusted with the responsibility to ensure safety of children travelling in school buses. The drivers of school buses should have a valid driving licence and must have a minimum of five years of experience of driving heavy vehicles.
The school authorities should appoint a trained woman attendant to assist school children travelling in the bus. She will ensure safe travel of the children during the entire journey and also render adequate assistance for safe boarding and deboarding of children.
The maximum speed of the school bus should not be more than 40 kmph and speed governors must be installed in buses.
Gautam Budh Nagar has 8.6 lakh registered vehicles.