Over 1,300 School Transport Vehicles in Pune Found Without Valid Fitness Certificates
Pune, 17th June 2025: As the new academic year begins, concerns over student safety have resurfaced with the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) revealing that 1,333 school transport vehicles in the city are operating without valid fitness certificates.
According to the RTO, a total of 7,103 school transport vehicles—including buses and vans—are registered within its jurisdiction. However, only 5,700 of them currently hold valid fitness certifications, which are mandatory to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles ferrying schoolchildren.
“We have repeatedly instructed all school transport operators to renew their fitness certificates on time. A special drive is underway to address this,” said a senior RTO official, stressing the importance of compliance in the interest of children’s safety.
When asked whether the non-compliant vehicles are still on the roads, the official admitted that the department lacks real-time data on their operations. “At this point, we cannot confirm if these vehicles are actively transporting students. But if any are found operating during our checks, action will be taken immediately,” the official added.
Officials have urged schools to verify the fitness status of vehicles being used for student transport. “Educational institutions play a crucial role here. They should check and ensure that the vehicles they engage have valid documentation. If not, they should inform us,” the official said.
Another RTO officer noted that fitness renewals typically spike at the start of the academic year, but some operators delay the process. “We are stepping up enforcement now. Our teams are on the ground conducting inspections to identify violators,” the officer added.
With a growing number of students relying on private vehicles for daily commuting, the Pune RTO has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer school transportation. Parents and schools are also being encouraged to remain vigilant and report any irregularities.
