In a decisive move to enhance the safety of schoolchildren, East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan has ordered a joint inspection of all school vehicles in Jamshedpur. The directive mandates that operators update necessary documents before checks begin next week.
Safety First for Schoolchildren
Stating that the safety of schoolchildren is a top priority, Ranjan directed transport officials and traffic police to conduct coordinated inspections of school buses, private vans, and auto-rickshaws that ferry children. “Random inspections of school vehicles will be launched after seven days,” he confirmed during a meeting of the district road safety committee on Monday evening.
Data-Driven Approach to Reduce Accidents
During the meeting, Ranjan emphasized a data-driven approach to curb road accidents. He instructed the District Transport Officer (DTO) to analyze road crash data from the past six months to identify key causes and implement corrective and preventive measures.
Officials reported that 28 road accidents occurred in May, resulting in 19 deaths and 15 injuries. This marked a decline from April, which saw 31 accidents, 24 fatalities, and 23 grievous injuries. The Deputy Commissioner directed departments to sustain this downward trend.
Enforcement and Penalties
Enforcement actions have intensified, with fines totaling Rs 23.44 lakh collected for traffic violations in May. A total of 512 driving licenses were suspended for serious offenses. During the same period, authorities issued 2,805 learner’s licenses and 1,704 driving licenses.
Highway Safety Works Completed
Reviewing highway safety works, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials confirmed that street light repairs at Galudih, Phulpal, and Ghatsila have been completed. Other pending works are expected to be finished within 10 to 15 days.
Ranchi District Surprise Inspections
In Ranchi district, transport authorities are planning surprise inspections of school buses and vans. DTO Akhilesh Kumar announced on Tuesday that a week-long enforcement drive is being planned, warning that strict action will be taken against operators violating safety guidelines.
“Children’s safety cannot be compromised. Before the summer vacation, we inspected 93 school vehicles in a day-long drive and imposed fines of over Rs 2 lakh for various violations. Similar surprise inspections will continue regularly,” Kumar stated.
What Inspectors Will Check
During inspections, officials will verify vehicle fitness certificates, permits, insurance, pollution certificates, valid driving licenses, first-aid boxes, fire extinguishers, and prescribed seating capacity. Authorities will also check whether school vans have safety grilles or nets on windows, proper school markings, and emergency contact details displayed.
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About the Author: B Sridhar, based in Jamshedpur, covers the entire Kolhan region including East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan, reporting on topics such as left wing extremism, city life, urban policies, and other wide-ranging issues.
