Buses have not got RTO approval yet, as they have not installed all the safety devices asked for by the state; effect: They may not ply when school reopens
Buses have not gotu00a0RTO approval yet, as they have not installed all the safety devices asked for by the state; effect: They may not ply when school reopens
Parents will have a hard time sending their kids to school when educational institutions across the city reopen for the new term on June 6 after the summer holidays.
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More than 1,000 students of schools affiliated to the Central Board will have to reach school without the usual rides on their school buses. 
Vibgyor High School, Goregaon, has bought 21 buses fitted with all the safety devices, except for
speed governors, because of which they have not got an approval by the RTO
At least 100 new school buses, along with the existing 700, might not ply on the streets, since the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has denied buses owned by the School Bus Owners' Association of Mumbai the permission to resume their operations, saying that they have failed to implement all the safety norms stipulated by the government.
Most of the schools have purchased new, modified school buses equipped with technologies like RFI (Radio Frequency Identification), GPS systems, emergency hammers etc.
The buses, however, are not installed with speed governors, which would ensure that the speed of the bus stays below the upper limit of 40 km per hour. Owing to the RTO's denial of permission, the School Bus Owners' Association in Mumbai will not be operating its fleet of 800 school buses on 6 June.
Anil Garg, Chairman of the School Bus Owners' Association, said, "I went with my three new modified school buses for the RTO inspection today.
However, the officials did not give me my registration number. After new safety norms were stipulated last month, we bought the new buses. However, they are not equipped with the speed governors, as a result of which our buses were not registered.
The head of the transport department had given us his promise in a past meeting that he would register our new modified buses.
If these buses are not registered, 800 buses will not be able to ply on the streets when school reopens. There are chances that the RTO officials will seize the buses, if speed governors are not installed in them."
Niyaz Ahmed, transport manager for Vibgyor School, said, "Our school has bought 21 new BS4 school buses, which are fitted with all the safety tools stipulated by the government, with the exception of speed governors. We will install them, but we need time to do so.
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The manufacturer made these buses six months six months before the safety norms came in place." He added, "What will we say to our 2,000 clients who rely on our services to send their kids to school?"
Vandana Lulla, director of Podar World School, said, "If the RTO withholds the registration numbers, parents will be inconvenienced greatly. Most of our children have working parents who cannot drop their kids to school personally."
Official speak
Dilip Jadhav, state transport commissioner, said, "I have asked all the school officials to meet A N Bhalchandra, a senior RTO officer. I don't think the officials have approached the right person. I will ask for a report on the matter tomorrow."
New Regulations
The new Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2011, firmly stipulate that a transport committee is to be set up in every school across Maharashtra. Exclusive bus stops are to be assigned for school buses.
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All the buses should be yellow in colour, or at least sport yellow bands. No bus should be over eight-years-old. The vehicles should carry details of the children on board, as well as and a route map.
The new buses come equipped with Global Positioning Systems, railings on windows so that students can't put their hands out, first-aid kits and fire extinguishers
Also, they must be equipped with first aid boxes, fire extinguishers, convex cross view mirrors, hand rails, low floor doors and emergency exits.
Drivers should cross speed limit of 40 km per hour within city limits, and 50 km per hour beyond. Drivers should have a minimum of five years experience and a valid driving license. Female attendants are mandatory in buses carrying girl students.
Operators need special permits to operate school buses, and district committees should monitor the safety measures on the same.
In search of a safer ride
Most of the schools affiliated to the central boards have brought new BS4 school buses. The buses are fitted with state-of-the-art technology like GPS and RFI (Radio Frequency Identification.
These technologies will enable the parents and school to keep an eye on the movements of the bus. If the school bus exceeds the speed limit or diverts from the designated route, the school will receive an alert immediately.
With the attendance system, parents will be alerted through an SMS every time their child boards or alights from the bus.
Every bus will be equipped with emergency exits and fire extinguishers. There will be horizontal bars, preventing the students from leaning out of the window. Male and female attendants will be present at the buses.
Benefits of GPS
Parents will receive a phone call five minutes before their child's school bus arrives at the bus stop. Kids thus will not have to wait at the bus stop for long periods, and can stay safe at home till the bus arrives. Parents can also keep tabs on the whereabouts of the bus u00a0after their wards have boarded it.
800
The number of school buses in u00a0the city
Did you know?
There are around 75 IGCSE (International General Certificate for Secondary Education) and IB (International Baccalaureate) schools in and around Mumbai. There are approximately 65 ICSE schools and 32 CBSE schools in the city.
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