Corporate schools running unfit buses

Checks by the road transport officials revealed that many corporate schools in the twin cities are plying their school buses without proper documents and fitness certificates. Besides, the buses are also carrying children in excess of the seating capacity violating the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act 1988.“At least 51 buses belonging to well-known corporate schools did not have proper fitness certificates and were seized as part of a special drive. Adherence to norms related to steering system,  brakes, physical appearance and windows were yet to be verified,” B Venkateswarlu, joint commissioner of the RTA, told Expresso.“Narayana, Chaitanya, Gowthami, St. Angels, Leo Royal, Madina and Sri Vidya are among the schools whose buses have been seized. A penalty of Rs 3.5 lakh has been imposed on them,” he said.There are about 3,000 schools in the twin cities - about 2,200 private schools and 800 government institutions. “About 1,000 private school buses are plying and most of them are unfit for transporting schoolchildren. The managements do not maintain them properly,” Venkateswarlu said.Taking a serious note of the violation, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has cracked the whip on errant school managements.The drive would be on till month-end, Venkateswarlu said and warned the school managements to comply with the traffic and RTA rules for students’ safety. Fitness certificate must be taken every year from two years after the date of vehicle purchase, he said.Stating that school autos should carry only up to six children, he said school managements should guide the parents in this regard. All school autos should be allowed into school premises to drop and pick up children.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com