Parents in the city were unhappy with the Regional Transport Office’s safety enforcement drive for the third consecutive day as school buses were stopped and examined on the road when they were bringing children back home. A total of 69 buses were examined, keeping both parents and students waiting for a long time. The transport officials also issued challans to seven buses for violating safety norms. A total of 200 buses have been checked in three days out of which 21 have been challaned for violating the norms of the Transport Department.
Parents raised objection to the timings chosen for the checking. They said the buses could have been checked in the morning after the students had been brought to school and the buses were stationed on the premises.
A Noida parent, whose child studies in Class V in a private school, said the delayed checking of the buses had left him worried. “I waited for a while and then contacted the bus driver. He said an RTO official was examining the bus at the Sector 32 crossing. The transport officials should examine the buses at some other time so that students and parents are not troubled by it,” he said.
“We cannot examine whether the bus driver is speeding or driving recklessly, if the buses are stationed in the school. There are around 100 schools in the city and we have limited manpower. We cannot visit every school to examine the buses,” said Rajesh Singh, ARTO (Enforcement), adding, “Five buses had first-aid boxes but they were missing useful supplies and equipment within the boxes. “Two bus drivers were missing their driving licence and were challaned,” Singh further added. He informed that three teams of 18 officials have been formed, which are conducting raids at various places.
Transport officials also warned the drivers that if found driving without a licence next time, their licence would be suspended. Repeated violation may even lead to cancellation of licence. The officials said that due to repeated checks, there is awareness among the school management who have got fitness certification of all buses done during the summer holidays.
The officials said that most of the school buses examined had the appropriate permits, and the school children were accompanied by an attendant who helped the children in safe embarking and disembarking. Drivers and conductors were also found adhering to legit dress code. The ARTO continued the safety enforcement drive till Friday in Noida and the drive will be conducted in Greater Noida from next week.