Meeting of the District School Bus Safety Committee
At a meeting of the District School Bus Safety Committee on Aug 31, senior officials from police, regional transport office (RTO) and education department reviewed the safety preparedness of buses, vans and other vehicles used to ferry students across the district.
Officials said the govt resolution (GR) issued in July this year on school bus safety lays down detailed norms covering vehicle inspections, driver qualifications, mandatory safety equipment and the responsibilities of school managements. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : As thousands of students climb aboard school buses every morning, authorities in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have put schools on notice: Ensure every vehicle meets prescribed safety norms by Oct or face stringent action. The committee stressed that transporting children safely is a non-negotiable responsibility of school managements. Police commissioner Pravin Pawar directed that all school transport vehicles undergo regular checks for mechanical condition and essential documents, including fitness certificates, insurance, permits and pollution-under-control certificates. He also emphasised the need for mandatory safety features such as fire extinguishers, first-aid boxes, emergency exits, proper seating arrangements, CCTV cameras and GPS tracking systems. The committee reiterated that ensuring students reach school and return home safely rests primarily with schools and transport operators, and cannot be treated as a routine administrative requirement.