FITNESS OF SCHOOL BUSES FAIL, LIFES OF STUDENTS IN DANGER

FITNESS OF SCHOOL BUSES FAIL, LIFES OF STUDENTS IN DANGER

1-JULY-ENG 18

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Private school operators in Ara, Bihar are constantly playing with the lives of innocent students. Parents who educate their children in expensive schools are also unaware that private school operators are playing with the lives of their children every day. We are talking about school buses in Ara. The insurance and fitness of the buses of big and expensive school operators of Ara have failed, despite this, children are being brought home from school every day by the same buses.

The insurance of buses of big schools like DK Carmel, Jean Paul High School, Pratap International of Ara has failed, while the fitness of some has failed. In the year 2023, a fine of more than Rs 30 lakh was imposed on such school buses by the Transport Department. Despite this, school operators are not being alert. By keeping the rules aside, they are playing with the safety of children.

76 vehicles of private schools of Ara and nearby areas are registered in the transport office. But most of the vehicles of private schools have failed fitness. Some have failed fitness for four years and some for even five years. Such vehicles are continuously becoming condemned/dilapidated. Despite this, these school managements take children to their schools in dilapidated vehicles. In such a situation, the lives of thousands of children are in danger every day.

According to Transport Officer Ravi Ranjan, out of 76 vehicles registered in private schools of Ara and nearby areas, 41 vehicles have failed fitness certificate. But, these vehicles are openly running on the roads in violation of transport rules. The District Transport Department said that last year in 2024, a fine of about Rs 33 lakh was imposed on 357 vehicles for not making fitness certificates. This year also the department is sending notices for action against the school managements of 41 vehicles.

District Transport Officer said that fitness certificate is such a document. No vehicle meets all the standards to run on the road. Fitness certificate and permit is mandatory for vehicles carrying children to schools. For this, this certificate has to be obtained from the Regional Transport Authority (RTO). Fitness test of vehicles is conducted from time to time. After this, a no objection certificate is given to drive the vehicles or to seat passengers. It is reported that many private schools' vehicles are running on the roads without a fitness certificate. This is a violation of transport rules. To stop this, notices are being sent to private schools in the first phase.