School Buses To Get CCTV, GPS Tracking, Panic Buttons Under New Maharashtra Rules
School Buses To Get CCTV, GPS Tracking, Panic Buttons Under New Maharashtra Rules
Pune, July 28, 2026: The Maharashtra government has notified revised regulations aimed at strengthening the safety of school transportation, making it mandatory for all school buses and vehicles carrying students to implement enhanced safety measures within three months.
According to a notification published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette on July 16, 2026, the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (School Bus Regulation) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026 have come into force, introducing several changes to vehicle eligibility and safety standards.
Under the amended rules, the permissible operational age of school buses and school vans in areas outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has been increased from 15 years to 20 years, calculated from the date of vehicle registration. The amendment also authorises the respective Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) to determine the fare structure for school bus services.
The revised regulations make it compulsory for all school buses and vehicles transporting students to be equipped with a Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) device with a panic button, a fire detection and alarm system, CCTV cameras, and a digital safety monitoring system.
Operators will also be required to provide a mobile application enabling parents to track the real-time location of the vehicle, maintain digital attendance records of students, and operate a notification system that alerts parents about student travel. In addition, CCTV footage must be preserved for a minimum of 30 days.
The government has also made seat belts mandatory for every seat in vehicles transporting schoolchildren, reinforcing passenger safety standards.
The revised rules are intended to improve the safety, monitoring and accountability of school transport services across Maharashtra and must be implemented by operators within the stipulated three-month period.
