As schools set to reopen in state, buses still unfit to ferry students
Hyderabad: In view of the reopening of schools, vehicles transporting students must necessarily possess valid fitness certificates. As several thousands of buses are yet to obtain the certificates, the Transport department has ramped up fitness inspections of school buses to ensure student safety.
Worried parents are feeling anxious with schools set to reopen on June 12, many school buses, which their children depend on for transportation, reportedly did not secure the required fitness certificates from the transport department for the academic year.
According to the transport department, of the total 25,677 buses operated by educational institutions across the state, only 17,020 of these buses have obtained fitness certificates so far. As per the rules, an annual fitness certification is required for all vehicles, assessing their mechanical state and safety attributes prior to being authorised for student transportation.
Joint Transport Commissioner (Vigilance & Enforcement) Mamindla Chandrasekhar Goud urged the remaining 8,657 buses to immediately obtain fitness certification from their respective transport department offices.
The JTC has strictly warned that school buses older than 15 years must not be operated under any circumstances. 'If such aged or unfit vehicles are used to transport students, not only will the vehicles be seized, but legal action will also be initiated against the respective managements,' he added.
Chandrasekhar reiterated that the responsibility of maintaining educational institution vehicles lies solely with the school management. He advised that buses must be kept in good condition and experienced drivers must be employed. He also added that there will be checks on vehicles carrying students beyond their permitted capacity.
The Joint Transport Commissioner stated that special inspection drives have been ordered across all districts. District-level transport officials are conducting meetings with school managements and drivers in their respective areas, he added.
Telangana Auto and Motor Welfare Union, General secretary M Dayanand said that as per the Motor Vehicles Act, bus drivers must have a valid heavy vehicle driving licence and be under 60 years of age. However, this has not been followed by the institutions, and they are hiring unprofessional drivers, he pointed out.
Additionally, an attendant must accompany students on every trip. Buses must be equipped with essential safety items such as a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and up-to-date documentation, including registration papers and a valid fitness certificate.
The Transport Vigilance & Enforcement wing must ensure that the safety guideline issued by the transport department must be followed to ensure the safety for the student's transportation, said Dayanand.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
One dead, 3 injured after ST bus crashes into auto rickshaw in Virar West
MUMBAI: A 55-year-old shared auto-rickshaw passenger died, and three others, including the driver, suffered grievous injuries after an allegedly speeding State Transport (ST) bus crashed into it in Virar West on Sunday. The police booked the absconding bus driver for causing death by negligence. 55-year-old Kalpana Kolge, a resident of Arnala village, died int the accident. The accident occurred at 8.30am near the Arnala city bus stop. The ST had left the Arnala bus depot to go to Shirdi while the shared auto was transporting four passengers from the Virar railway station to the Arnala village. According to the police, the bus was attempting to overtake the vehicle in front of it and collided head-on with the auto. Passersby alerted the police at 8.35am, who rushed the four passengers and the auto driver, identified as Poonam Varthe, to the Sanjeevani Hospital in Virar West. One of them, Kalpana Kolge, a resident of Arnala village, was declared dead by the doctors. Varthe suffered injuries to her head and torso. The two other passengers, who are yet to be identified, also suffered injuries. All three are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Eyewitnesses told the police that the bus driver was speeding before it crashed into the rickshaw. 'Fearing public anger, the bus driver immediately fled. We are tracing the accused,' said a police officer. The Arnala Sagri police registered a case against the accused driver under section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 281 (rash driving), and 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Tough task ahead for govt as race to SPC post hots up
1 2 3 Thiruvananthapuram: With state police chief Sheikh Darvesh Sahib set to retire at the end of this month, the process to appoint Kerala's next state police chief (SPC) has entered a crucial stage. With the state heading into an election year, the govt is treading carefully in finalising the recommendation, balancing seniority, experience and political compatibility. Among the front-runners is Ravada A Chandrasekhar, a 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat. Chandrasekhar recently visited Thiruvananthapuram and is learnt to have met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and chief secretary A Jayathilak, who is also his batchmate, formally expressing interest in returning to state service to take up the top post. While Chandrasekhar was earlier viewed as a strong contender for the post of director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Centre's decision to extend incumbent IB chief Tapan Kumar Deka's tenure by another year has shifted the equation, with Chandrasekhar now eyeing the SPC role. If appointed, he would be eligible for an additional year in service, extending his career beyond the current 2026 retirement date. In terms of seniority among officers of DGP rank in Kerala, Chandrasekhar stands second, just below Nitin Agarwal, another strong contender. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The UPSC is likely to forward a panel of three names to the state, based on the state's recommendation and cadre seniority. As it stands, the probable shortlist may include Agarwal, Chandrasekhar and Yogesh Gupta. Following them in the seniority order is DGP Manoj Abraham, who is widely regarded across all political and administrative fronts as field-experienced and acceptable, and his name is expected to remain relevant through the final stages of the decision-making process. Further down the list are additional DGPs Suresh Raj Purohit and M R Ajith Kumar. While Purohit is currently on central deputation with the Special Protection Group (SPG), Ajith Kumar has been keeping a low profile following the thick controversies that surrounded him in the recent past. Also, both officers face a key eligibility barrier — neither has completed 30 years of service, which may effectively rule them out of contention for the top post. The appointment comes at a politically sensitive time, with the 2026 assembly elections not far away. The leadership of the police force during this period is expected to play a significant role in maintaining law and order, managing public perception, and ensuring administrative stability. As such, the final decision is likely to be influenced not just by service records and seniority but also by the state govt's comfort level with the officer's administrative style and political alignment. Political observers note that the CPM-led govt has shown flexibility in past appointments. In 2016, the party fielded M V Nikesh Kumar, son of M V Raghavan whom CPM held responsible for the Koothuparamba police firing as the LDF candidate in Azhikode, and later inducted him into the Kannur district committee. This shift demonstrated the party's willingness to look beyond emotional baggage when it serves broader political or strategic goals. Similarly, Raman Srivastava, once a close aide of K Karunakaran, was appointed as chief advisor to CM Pinarayi Vijayan, again highlighting the CPM's pragmatic approach. The UPSC is expected to finalise a three-member panel based on seniority and service records, from which the state govt will choose the next police chief.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Man booked after minor son causes fatal bike accident
Ahmedabad: A man has been booked after his underage son crashed a motorcycle, leading to the death of the pillion rider. Dholka police registered the case against him on Saturday in the incident that occurred on March 14 near Keliya Vasna village in Ahmedabad district. The case complaint states that the 16-year-old boy was riding the motorcycle from Keliya Vasna towards Ranoda village when he lost control. The vehicle skidded off the road and hit a tree, killed the pillion rider on the spot. The minor rider also suffered injuries. Police investigation revealed that the motorcycle was owned by the minor's father, who allegedly allowed the underage teen to ride it. A constable from Dholka rural police station filed the complaint after receiving a telephonic alert. Based on preliminary findings, police booked the father under Section 199 of the Motor Vehicles Act for permitting an unlicensed and underage person to ride, leading to a fatal accident. An earlier case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing death by negligence and driving without a licence, along with the Motor Vehicles Act. Statements from local witnesses and police staff were recorded as part of the inquiry, after which Dholka rural police filed another case against the minor's father.
