RTO pulls up 30 school buses

Navi Mumbai officials take action against them for flouting state Motor Vehicles norms

Parents in Navi Mumbai may have to arrange for alternative transport to drop their children to school as the Regional Transport Office is taking stringent actions and detaining buses for flouting guidelines of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

Flouted
Assistant RTO officer in Vashi, Sandesh Chavan, asserted that his officials have issued warnings, sent legal notices and detained around 30 buses for flouting guidelines since June.

Chavan said, "We had informed transport companies and schools to follow the guidelines strictly.

Principal, Keka Chakraborty, Radclife School, said, "If the guidelines are going to foster the safety of students, we are happy to welcome them."

On the contrary, Principal S T Bhadlikar of Dhyan Pushpa Vidya Niketan School and College maintained, "Though the guidelines seem stringent we have asked the company to stick to them."

Navi Mumbai ACP for Traffic, Vijay Patil, said "We are forming a panel with the Police Commissioner, Municipal commissioner, education officers and various school representatives to discuss the issue, after which we will take necessary action."

The meeting is scheduled for July 13, he added.

The Other Side
One private transport company owner, unable to adhere to all the rules termed the guidelines as irrelevant and a tactic of the RTO to earn money.

Nagnath Patil, owner of Omkar tours, said, "Many of the new rules are too difficult to follow.

One rule enforces to have stanchions at regular intervals and hand railing at both front and rear doors. We could not arrange them immediately, and were therefore prosecuted."