Aurangabad: The Regional Transport Office (RTO), Aurangabad on Wednesday intensified its drive against school buses for not following the laid down norms related to the safety of students.The RTO officials had formed a total of four squads for carrying out the necessary inspection of buses at different places with crackdown resulting into scrutiny of nearly 25 buses.Regional transport officer Satish Sadamate said crucial checks such as validity of transportation permit, vehicle insurance and compliance with the state school bus policy were part of the drive against errant operators.“Ensuring safety of school transportation assumes very high significance for each and every stakeholder. Those transporters who are not following the rules, have been asked to toe the line,” he said.The consolidated details as regards to Wednesday’s drive were not available with the RTO officials till evening. Earlier, the RTO swung into action and carried out similar check of schools buses post an accident wherein a couple of students from a school in Waluj fell from the rear side of a running bus and sustained injuries.The Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2011 governs the school transportation in the state and it applies to schools of all mediums and boards. The transporter has to enclose a copy of the common standard agreement (CSA) with the school and the list of children proposed to be transported.The school buses have to follow certain guidelines like installation of fire extinguishers, fixing of grill on the windows, installation of GPS and facilitating first-aid box with necessary medicines and equipment in the vehicle.As per norms, every school shall have a transport committee to look into the matters pertaining to safe transportation of school children among other crucial compliances.Pradnya Dharashivkar, a parent of two pre-primary students, said the RTO must carry out periodic checks of schools buses, instead confining such drives as an alleged knee-jerk reaction to any mishap.“The crackdown against school buses is altogether different action as compared to other vehicles. The authorities should ensure that students should not face any inconvenience or suffer academic loss during such drives. It is risky indeed if students get stranded on roads if any school bus is detained as a part of the action and therefore proper arrangements must be in place before initiating crackdown,” she said.

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