Patna: In a major move to curb road accidents involving school children, the Bihar Transport Department has imposed a statewide ban on the use of autos and e-rickshaws for school transportation, effective from today. Any school or driver found violating this rule will face strict action, officials have warned.
The decision follows rising concerns over safety, with frequent accidents reported due to overcrowded and poorly maintained vehicles.
Approximately 4,000 autos and e-rickshaws currently transport school children in Patna and its surrounding areas, including 1,000 within the Patna Municipal Corporation limits and over 3,000 in rural and block areas.
To ensure effective enforcement, a meeting was held on Tuesday between Patna District Transport Officer (DTO) Upendra Pal, Traffic SP, and other officials. The ban applies to all private schools operating in urban and rural areas of Patna district, including municipal corporations and block-level institutions.
Patna DTO Upendra Pal stated, “Starting April 1, transporting school children by auto will be completely prohibited. Overloaded autos and unfit vehicles significantly increase accident risks, especially in rural areas. Violators will face necessary legal action.”
While the government’s decision prioritizes safety, it has sparked concerns among middle-class families who rely on affordable transportation. Parents argue that with rising education costs, autos and e-rickshaws were the only budget-friendly options for school transport.
“School fees are already exorbitant. This ban will burden parents further, as hiring private cabs or school buses is expensive,” said a worried parent.
Meanwhile, the livelihoods of over 70,000 auto drivers across Bihar are at stake. Patna District Auto Drivers Association President Pappu Yadav said, “This ban threatens our income. Thousands of autos serve schools, and drivers now face unemployment.”
The principal of a school clarified, “Schools do not operate or regulate autos and e-rickshaws. Transport arrangements are made by parents, often through informal agreements. Unauthorized vehicles falsely displaying school names should be identified and penalized.”
In a parallel move, the Transport Department has announced that updating mobile numbers in vehicle registration certificates (RC) and driving licenses (DL) will now incur a penalty of Rs2,500. Additionally, after March 31, pollution certificates will not be issued for vehicles without updated mobile numbers.
