Ranchi: Jharkhand Transport Minister Deepak Birua on Thursday ordered a 10-day statewide drive to identify unsafe vehicles used for transporting school students. The initiative mandates that educational institutions ensure compliance with transport safety norms and share complete vehicle details with authorities.
Minister's Directive on School Transport Safety
Birua stated that the drive aims not only to penalize violations but also to enforce responsibility among schools. “All district transport officers must identify such vehicles within 10 days and take action as per rules. At the same time, school managements must ensure transport standards and student safety by maintaining complete records of every vehicle and sharing them with the district transport department,” he said.
Strict Action Against Non-Compliance
The minister emphasized that schools cannot allow vehicles lacking valid fitness or documentation to operate. “If a vehicle is not fit, the owner must first correct all documents before using it for student transport. Running private vehicles commercially is illegal. Schools must verify these aspects before engaging any vehicle, otherwise strict action will follow,” Birua warned. He added that deputy commissioners have been directed to ensure swift implementation of the drive.
Inspection Details and Safety Checks
District officials confirmed that inspections will focus on both vehicle condition and adherence to school transport norms. Ramgarh District Transport Officer (DTO) Anurag Tiwari said verification teams have been deployed to audit records submitted by schools. Seraikela-Kharsawan DTO Girija Shankar Mahato noted that checks will go beyond paperwork to include safety compliance. “We are examining whether buses are equipped with fire extinguishers, protective window grills, valid permits and properly identified drivers,” he explained.
The drive underscores the state government's commitment to student safety and strict enforcement of transport regulations across Jharkhand.
