In the backdrop of Punjab Transport Department launching a drive against illegal school buses in the wake of death of 4 school children in a tragedy earlier this month, the Department on Monday said it checked 521 vehicles across the state, out of which 152 were challaned and 59 impounded.
The drive has been launched against the school buses illegally plying in gross violation of the Motor Vehicle Act and School Vahan Scheme, the Transport Department said.
A spokesperson said the Department in close coordination with the civil and police administration in the districts has launched a state-wide crackdown against the school vehicles posing a major threat to the safety and security of the school children. He said that the Department during its two days vigorous drive conducted on February 17 and 8 checked as many as 7872 vehicles, of which 2680 were challaned and 430 impounded.
"This entire drive has executed by the teams comprising of Secretary RTAs, Assistant Transport Commissioners, Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs)," the spokesperson said, adding that this campaign will continue in future against offenders to ensure that all such school vehicles must adhere to the stipulated norms for the security and safety of the school children under the ‘School Vahan Scheme’.
He said the Transport department has directed all the District Education Officers DEOs to make inventory of all the vehicles registered with the schools for commuting children and share this list with Transport Department.