Pune RTO Makes CCTV Mandatory In School Buses And Vans By July 31; Action To Follow For Non-Compliance
Pune RTO Makes CCTV Mandatory In School Buses And Vans By July 31; Action To Follow For Non-Compliance
Pune: In a significant move to enhance the safety of schoolchildren, the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Pune, has mandated the installation of CCTV cameras in all school buses and vans operating within the city. Authorities have set July 31, 2025, as the deadline for implementation, failing which strict action will be taken starting August 1, warned Regional Transport Office.
This decision comes after several unfortunate incidents involving students in school vehicles over the past year. Currently, Pune has around 7,103 registered school buses and vans. While a few are equipped with functioning CCTV systems, many either lack them or have non-operational cameras. Most vans are still without any surveillance setup.
The Pune Police and the transport department jointly pushed this rule in light of rising concerns about student safety during transit. During a recent meeting of the District School Bus Safety Committee, several important safety measures were announced:
- CCTV cameras must be installed in all vehicles transporting schoolchildren.
- Female attendants must be appointed in vehicles carrying children under the age of six.
- Buses exclusively transporting girls must have a mandatory female staff member on board.
- Police verification is compulsory for all drivers, conductors, and cleaners involved in school transport.
- Auto-rickshaws carrying students beyond their capacity will face strict penalties.
The transport department has urged all school managements and vehicle owners to comply with these regulations by the stipulated deadline. Authorities believe these measures will significantly improve the safety and monitoring of school transport services across Pune.
Officials added that these actions are not just regulatory but also necessary to rebuild parental trust and ensure a secure commute for every child.
