Bribes Fuel Illegal School Transport; Associations Demand Permits To End Unregulated Operations
Bribes Fuel Illegal School Transport; Associations Demand Permits To End Unregulated Operations
Mumbai, July 9: Over 22,000 private Eco and Omni vans are reportedly transporting school children illegally across Mumbai, as revealed in a report published by ‘Punya Nagari’ on Tuesday. Following this, fresh allegations have surfaced claiming that rickshaws and vans—often packed with children like cattle—are operating freely due to regular bribes being paid to traffic police.
Since 2017, the Maharashtra government has banned Eco, Omni, and similar vehicles from ferrying school students. Despite this, such vehicles are still commonly seen outside private schools across Mumbai. School bus associations have long demanded action against these illegal operators, arguing that the lack of proper permits forces many families into unsafe transport arrangements.
“Drivers pay anywhere from ₹750 to ₹1,500 per vehicle as a ‘monthly fee’ to traffic police to continue operations. Even when complaints are filed, only temporary action is taken,” said Anil Garg, president of the School Bus Owners’ Association.
The Akhil Maharashtra State School Transport Federation has urged the government to lift the ban and issue permits for smaller vehicles like Eco, Omni, and Magic vans. “If regulated properly, this will prevent illegal operations and avoid huge financial losses for transporters,” said Vishal Dhawan, the federation’s spokesperson.
The situation has sparked debate over student safety and the livelihood concerns of drivers operating without permits. The federation insists that granting licenses would bring school transport back under legal and safety norms.
