Pune School Buses Under Scrutiny After Fire IncidentÂ
Pune School Buses Under Scrutiny After Fire IncidentÂ
A recent fire incident involving a school bus in the Kharadi area of Pune has prompted the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to launch a thorough inspection of school buses in the city and its suburbs. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident, but it has raised concerns about the safety of school transportation in the city.
The Pune RTO has been regularly inspecting school buses, and in the past 11 months, they have inspected 1,500 school buses, finding 601 of them guilty of various violations . A fine of ₹21.79 lakh has been recovered from these buses, and four buses have been penalized by the court for serious violations.
The inspection drive was briefly halted during the assembly elections but has resumed with increased intensity after the fire incident. Sub-Regional Transport Officer of Pune Division, stated that the team is conducting investigation and action in the city and district to ensure the safety of schoolchildren.
Parents have expressed concerns about the safety of school buses, emphasizing that the responsibility for ensuring the safety of students rests with the school bus operators, schools, and RTOs.
The RTO has also been criticized for not taking adequate action against school buses and vans that violate safety regulations. The inspecting RTO officer should also be held responsible for ensuring that the rules are followed during inspections.
In response to the concerns, the RTO has deployed teams to inspect school buses and vans, and a special inspection campaign has been launched to ensure the safety and compliance of school transport vehicles . The government has also introduced new regulations, but their implementation remains a challenge.
The safety of schoolchildren is a top priority, and the RTO’s efforts to inspect and regulate school buses are a step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to ensure that school buses operate safely and responsibly.
