Patna: An initiative to improve the safety of school children travelling in buses and vans has been launched in Patna district under the School Vehicle Operation Regulations 2020. The district administration will form Child Transport Committees in schools with more than 2,000 students to regulate the operation of school vehicles and ensure compliance with safety standards.
The District Transport Office has sent emails to large schools asking them to provide details about their transport fleet, including the number of buses, mini buses, omni vans and other vehicles, along with owners’ names, contract information and vehicle registration numbers.
Each Child Transport Committee will be chaired by the school headmaster and include two parents, a representative of the teachers’ union, the area traffic police inspector, a motor vehicle inspector, a representative from the education department, and a representative of school bus owners. The school transport in-charge will serve as the committee’s member secretary. These committees will meet every three months to monitor and improve safety standards for school vehicles.
District Transport Officer Upendra Kumar Pal said schools must strictly follow the School Vehicle Operation Regulations 2020 to ensure a safe and standard transport system for students. He warned that strict action will be taken against schools found violating these rules.
The government has set specific standards for school vehicles. All vehicles must be registered in the name of the school management, principal, director or other official. The vehicles should be painted golden yellow with the school’s name clearly written on them. Rented or leased vehicles must display ‘On School Duty’. The maximum speed limit is 40 km per hour, and vehicles must be equipped with a first aid box, fire extinguisher, GPS, vehicle location tracking device and panic button. Adequate space must be provided to keep school bags, and there should be special facilities for children with disabilities.
