Hitesh Veer Gupta, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Amritsar, has said that the safety of school-going children remains the top priority of the Transport Department and that strict compliance with the Safe School Vahan Policy must be ensured by all schools and transport operators without any compromise.
The RTO stated that all school managements, school bus contractors and transport operators have been directed to ensure that every vehicle ferrying schoolchildren fully complies with the provisions of the Safe School Vahan Policy and the Motor Vehicles Act. He clarified that the department’s objective is not merely to challan vehicles, but to ensure that vehicles transporting children are safe, authorised and compliant with all prescribed norms.
Referring to the inspection of school vans and buses conducted a week ahead of the summer vacation, Gupta said that any negligence concerning the safety of children would not be tolerated. “Schools have been advised to ensure that all mandatory safety requirements, including valid permits, fitness certificates, speed governors, CCTV cameras, GPS systems, fire extinguishers, first-aid facilities and other prescribed safety measures, are in place,” he said.
Appealing to parents, the RTO urged them not to send their children in unauthorised, overloaded or non-compliant vehicles merely for convenience, as such vehicles pose a serious risk to children’s lives. Parents have also been requested to immediately report any violation or non-compliance by school transport managements or contractors so that timely action can be taken.
The RTO further stated that with summer vacations approaching, schools and transport operators should utilise the break to rectify deficiencies and make all vehicles fully compliant with the Safe School Vahan Policy before schools reopen.
He warned that after the reopening of schools, a special enforcement drive would be launched and strict action under the Motor Vehicles Act would be taken against violators. Non-compliant vehicles found transporting schoolchildren would be challaned and impounded as per law.
