Pune: Safety Concerns Of Students Arise As School Vehicle Inspections Remain Unverified In Pimpri-Chinchwad City
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 17th June 2023: Schools in Pimpri Chinchwad started on Thursday, marking a fresh start for students. However, there is growing apprehension surrounding the safety of school transportation as the transport department displays apathy towards inspecting vehicles carrying students.
Last week, the Pimpri Chinchwad Transport Department issued a circular regarding the school vehicle inspection drive. But the transport department has no information about how many vehicles have passed the inspection and received the fitness certificate regarding it. This has raised serious concerns about the safety of school-going students.
The rules regarding the safety system in the vehicles transporting students and the documents they have to fulfil have been given in this circular. But no deadline has been given in this letter for the completion of the inspection of vehicles.
There are more than three thousand registered school vehicles in Pimpri-Chinchwad city. All vehicles are required to be inspected to obtain a Certificate of Fitness as per government regulations. This inspection encompasses criteria such as the colour of the school bus, its internal structure, seating capacity, and the speed control system. Only upon meeting all these criteria can a vehicle be issued a fitness certificate, and only then is the respective bus considered safe for school transport.
Shockingly, the RTO does not have any data on how many school buses plying in the city have this inspected fitness certificate. Therefore, doubts are being raised about whether these buses are safe for students. Also, questions are being raised about who should be held accountable in the event of an accident involving an unfit bus.
Meanwhile, the transport department has said that the necessary action will be taken against school buses that do not comply with the rules.
Join Punekar News Whatsapp Group, Telegram, Instagram And Twitter For Regular Update about Pune City And Pimpri-Chinchwad
