In a major crackdown on unsafe student transportation, the transport department in Andhra Pradesh's NTR district has registered cases against 16 school and college buses for flouting safety norms under the Motor Vehicle Act. The surprise checks were conducted across the district on Monday.
Special Teams Deployed for District-Wide Inspections
Acting on the directives of Joint Transport Commissioner A. Mohan, the department formed 10 special teams comprising Motor Vehicle Inspectors. These teams carried out simultaneous inspections, scrutinizing a total of 60 buses used by various educational institutions. From this number, 10 buses were immediately booked for specific safety violations, adding to the total of 16 cases registered during the drive.
Officials Issue Stern Warning to School Managements
Joint Transport Commissioner A. Mohan expressed grave concern over the negligence observed. He emphasized that transporting students without adhering to prescribed safety standards poses a severe threat to their lives and significantly increases the risk of fatal accidents. Mohan stated clearly that there would be no compromise on student safety.
He pointed out that some school managements are ignoring even basic safety measures, a negligence that could lead to tragic consequences involving innocent children. The official reiterated that apart from penalizing the vehicles, stringent action would also be initiated against the bus owners and the responsible school management for the violations.
Parents Advised to Stay Vigilant
During the initiative, transport department officials directly advised parents to remain alert regarding their children's commute. Parents were urged to personally inspect the condition of the buses their children use. They were also asked to report any safety shortcomings to the school authorities first. If the school fails to take corrective action, parents should bring the matter to the notice of the transport or police departments.
In addition to the enforcement drive, the department also conducted awareness programs for students. These sessions educated them on safe evacuation procedures to follow during emergency situations on board.
