Patna: Bihar government has announced a new digital monitoring system for vehicles operated by private schools, making it mandatory for institutions to register their school transport fleet on a dedicated online portal. The initiative, to be launched this month by the Transport Department, aims to improve the safety of students travelling to and from school.
Under the new system, private schools will have to upload detailed information about every vehicle used to transport children, along with records of drivers and mandatory legal documents. The department says the portal will enable continuous oversight and help curb negligence in the operation of school vehicles.
Mandatory Registration of School Vehicles
According to Transport Department Secretary Raj Kumar, all private schools will be required to register buses, mini-buses, vans and other vehicles used for student transportation on the portal.
Schools must also provide details of drivers, vehicle fitness certificates, insurance, permits and other statutory documents. The information will be maintained digitally and monitored by the Transport Department.
Real-Time Monitoring and Compliance
As part of the initiative, school vehicles will be integrated with the Transport Department’s location tracking system. This will allow authorities to monitor vehicle movement and speed.
The department said the system will automatically detect the expiry of vehicle fitness certificates, insurance policies and other required documents. In such cases, the concerned school will receive a notice through the District Transport Officer (DTO).
Response to Safety Concerns
The move follows reports from several districts involving the use of unfit or poorly maintained school vehicles and road accidents affecting students.
The government said the digital monitoring mechanism is intended to strengthen compliance with transport regulations and improve accountability among private educational institutions.
District-Level Oversight
Traffic Superintendents of Police (Traffic SPs) and District Transport Officers across Bihar will supervise the implementation of the new system.
After the portal is launched, the Transport Department will issue detailed guidelines directing all private schools to complete the registration process within the prescribed timeline.
Expansion Planned
The Transport Department said the digital monitoring framework will be expanded in the next phase to include vehicles operated by medical and engineering colleges.
The government expects the initiative to improve child safety, increase transparency in school transportation and ensure better regulatory oversight across the state.
