Hello,

The recent news reports say that finally the school bus policy will be in place from next academic year.

The policy simply does not address the main issues of the childrens safety and that of following traffic rules

01 Drivers can have any number of years as experience, but what about talking on mobile phone, wearing seat belts, not consuming gutkha, pan, smoking, spitting, other intoxicants etc, while on duty

02 Who is going to enforce 40 km per hour, why not make them keep in extreme left lane without any excuse, and only permit middle lane for overtaking in urgent cases, in fact no overtaking at all except in absolutely urgent cases

03 GPRS is all fine, which such large vehicle gets lost in Mumbai, almost all students have mobiles, attendants have mobiles, instead, install CCTV cameras inside, showing the cabin, showing the driver, and front facing, side facing and rear facing cameras to show how the bus is driven

04 Where are the designated school bus stops, and who will enforce them to stop there

05 The children will be travelling in a moving jail, with the jallis, grills, and closed doors, in overloaded SUV, Omnis, autos, who will check

06 Who will check for illegal horns, because apart from pressure horns, why aren't the musical, air, multi tone horns banned, many contract buses, SUVs, Omnis, use their unique shrill horns to call out to students in case they are not yet at the pick up spot

07 Why are children exempt from seat belts, after all, they are supposed to be safety features, who will check overloading, standing and jumping children in buses, etc.

08 Who is going to check for the credentials for outstation registered vehicles, ie, outside MH 01, MH 02, MH 03

09 What about contact details of contract bus operator, school transport manager, transport authority help line, name of driver, etc

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Years-later-govt-arrives-at-school-bus-policy/articleshow/8094979.cms

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/sakaaltimesbeta/20110319/5544452957416628958.htm

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-21/mumbai/29458441_1_bus-operators-tax-exemption-final-notification

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-17/pune/29137894_1_school-buses-bus-contractors-draft-rules

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/mar/180311-Chandu-Saidappa-driver-Podar-School-buses-parents-ride.htm

Unless the entire policy details are not made available to the public, like the Jan Lok Pal draft bill, we will always feel that the bill is not for the students, but for the operators, their pretend protests and objections notwithstanding, and that the implementation will not be as per desired, but selective.

Thanqx.

Jagdeep DESAI

Secretary

Founder Trustee

Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

www.forum4iqolms.org

>>>

Years later, govt arrives at school bus policy

Shibu Thomas, TNN | Apr 27, 2011, 01.14am IST

Article

Comments

Tags:Regional Transport Authority|Bombay High Court

MUMBAI: After years of delay, the Maharashtra government has finally framed a policy for school buses that seeks to ensure children's safety by introducing measures like exclusive bus stops and mandatory permits for vehicle operators.

The policy, which was submitted before the Bombay high court on Monday, comes two years after two kindergarteners were killed and more than 15 injured when a Maruti Omni exploded while ferrying them home from their Navi Mumbai school.

Under the new Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2011, an operator will have to obtain a special permit to operate a school bus. There will be a district committee, headed by the police commissioner and including a few senior officers, to monitor issues relating to the safety of schoolchildren's transportation.

Also as per the new rules, every school in the state would have to set up a transport committee to identify bus stops, study issues like transportation fees, and make certain that the operator and the bus driver have the necessary permissions and licences. The school committee will be headed by the principal and include a member of the Parents Teachers Association, a traffic inspector and other government authorities. The new rules say that the Regional Transport Authority will designate "parking and halting places at appropriate locations exclusively for school kids" keeping in mind school timings and the children's safety.

The vehicles, too, would have to conform to a slew of rules under the new policy.

School buses would have to be painted yellow, while private buses carrying schoolchildren will have to sport yellow bands around it. No vehicles more than 8 years old (15 years in case of CNG buses) would be allowed to operate as a school bus in Mumbai. The buses will have be carry complete details of the children and have an attendant (a female attendant if there are girls on board).

It would be mandatory for buses to be equipped with first aid boxes, fire extinguishers, convex cross view mirrors for the driver, hand rails, low floor doors, emergency exits and speed governors that will not allow the bus to exceed 40 kmph within city limits.

The state policy allows vans with a capacity of a maximum of 12 children to be used as school buses. The policy also lays down a minimum qualification for bus drivers-five years' driving experience and a valid licence.

In case of kindergarteners, the policy makes it compulsory that the driver take the child back to the school if an authorised person does not come to pick him or her up at the bus stop. The parents will then be summoned to fetch the child.

>>>

Are school bus drivers taking parents for a ride?

By: Kranti Vibhute

Date: 2011-03-18

Place: Mumbai

Half the institute-run vehicles' drivers lack valid papers, blame RTO for non-issuance of badges

If your child is commuting to and from school on an institute-run bus, you need to ensure that the man sitting behind the wheel has all the valid documents and is a bona fide driver.

Chandu Saidappa, driver for Podar School buses is one of the few who has the badge

Around 2,475 school bus drivers have been prosecuted for various offences, including lack of a valid driving licence, under the Motor Vehicle Act, in the past one and a half years, say the records of the Regional Transport Office.

Apart from a valid licence, the bus drivers need to have a badge issued by the RTO, certifying their eligibility.

What is surprising is that 50 per cent of the school bus drivers in the state are not holding badges because they are either settlers only Maharashtra residents are issued badges or are unaware of traffic rules.

According to the traffic police records, more than 3,39,448 heavy vehicle drivers, including 2,100 bus drivers, were prosecuted for violating traffic norms last year.

And this year, 375 school bus drivers were caught for violation of the Motor Vehicle Act between January 1 and February 17. Ever-increasing number of non-registered school bus drivers is driving the RTO officials up the wall.

Bus owners grumble

But the school bus drivers alleged that they were being singled out by RTO officials and traffic police as they were the "soft-targets".

Anil Garg, chairman School Bus Owners' Association (SBA), said that 3,600 school buses were plying on the streets of Mumbai, but half of them are being run by drivers who don't possess badges.

"The RTO and traffic police fine the drivers for not having a badge, but when they apply for badges the officials don't issue the insignia to them," he added.

Garg went on, "Traffic and RTO cops have to reach a certain target by March, so they have suddenly stepped up their drive to show more cases in their records.

"The RTO officials would detain a school bus driver for not wearing a uniform or lack of badges. Where will they get the badges from if the RTO does not issue the insignia? The RTO has not issued a single badge for the past three years. They just need an excuse to fleece us.

Why do they not detain vans that illegally ferry students?"

Niyaz Ahmed, owner of a school bus, said, "We are getting complaints daily from the bus drivers that the traffic cops are intercepting them and issuing memos ranging from Rs 1,000 to 10,000 for violations like absence of a reflector in the vehicle."

Rubbishing the claims that the RTO was not issuing badges, Dilip Jadhav, State Transport Commissioner, said, "Batches are being issued regularly. But the process has become a little strict now.

I have told the police to properly check the residential proof of these drivers to ensure that no one with a criminal record is issued a badge.

The person seeking a badge needs to be a resident of Maharashtra for at least 15 years, while most of the applications we are receiving are from the settlers. Once shortlisted, the candidate has to take a driving test and go through a police inquiry."

Sanjeev Lele, Transport Manager of Podar schools, said, "We allow only those drivers to drive our buses who have five years experience in driving and a badge from the RTO.

We also train the drivers on the school play ground and instruct them to avoid rash driving."

Officials of the traffic police department refused to comment on the allegations made by the School Bus Owners' Association.

Voices

"I don't know how important the badge is for a bus driver, but I will surely find out. We are given all the details about the route of the school bus and even messages on phone if the bus is stuck anywhere."
Swati Jajodia, parent of a student from JB Petit School

"We are banking on the school management as they are responsible for selecting a bona fide driver sans criminal records. Anyway, rules are made every other day, but who follows them?"
Dinesh Tarfe, parent of a St Xavier's school student

With Badge
Chandu Saidappa (32), said, "I have been driving school buses for the past 10 years. I got my badge after submitting my SSC certificate and residential proof in 2001. It was not so difficult to get a badge that time, but now it is a different story altogether. Now, the RTO officials don't issue badges to any bus driver, but they don't hesitate charging Rs 700 if a driver is caught without a badge."

Without Badge
CS Nadar said, "I have been driving school buses without a badge for the past seven years. It's not that I am a habitual offender, I have tried at least seven times to procure the badge, but to no avail. The RTO has not issued badges for years saying they are not available. They have caught me 10-12 times sans a badge and every time I had to cough up a hefty fine, ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000."

Legal point
Asked who would be liable in case of an accident or an abduction, Gabriel Pillai, barrister and solicitor, said, "Legally, the owner of the school bus would be liable. But the school management needs to ensure that they engage only those buses that comply with the Motor Vehicle Act regulations."

3,600
Approximate number of school buses on the streets of Mumbai

375
Drivers have been caught for violating traffic norms

>>>

On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 12:04 AM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

This report yet again confirms the view that there is going to be endless delays for any kind of school bus regulations

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2010/10/18&PageLabel=11&EntityId=Ar01100&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

Even then, the main and crucial point of adhering to, and following traffic rules, is not mentioned even once in the policy.

Apart from the fact that it is understood, the drivers and operators don't particularly bother about them, so they have to be directed, from the first line itself.

Whatever is reported of the model school bus guidelines, is more or less software based, instead of focussing on the drivers driving safely and to the traffic rules.

See any self respecting driver of a school bus or contract bus masquerading as a school bus, and any self respecting law abiding Citizen will hang his head in shame that in today's day and age, these fellows are driving like somewhere in lawless lands of India.

What message are we giving the children, that it is alright to break any and all rules so long as the bus gets us to the school or home on time, no matter if the kid is late, and the driver blows his illegal musical, pressure, multi tone, air horn to call him, or that he stops anywhere to pick up, no matter if it blocks traffic, or he parks anywhere, no matter its double, or corner, or wrong way, etc.

Live and Learn.

See the emails below, it doesn't appear the authorities, nor schools, nor parents, are interested.

Thanqx.

Jagdeep DESAI

Secretary
Founder Trustee

Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

www.forum4iqolms.org

>>>

Govt sits on school bus policy

Delays Resolution That Would Make Clutch Of Safety Measures Mandatory

Anahita Mukherji TNN

Mumbai: When it comes to implementing a school bus policy for Maharashtra, the state government's attitude is akin to a footballer who finds the goalpost clear but does not kick the ball in. Almost a decade after a model school bus system was designed, the government is yet to implement its own policy. It's only after a particularly horrific accident involving school children occurs that the government springs into action.
    Two years ago, after a group of kindergarteners died when a Maruti Omni exploded while ferrying them home from school, the government appointed a committee to draft a school bus policy for the state.
    The committee gave its policy recommendations earlier this year, which were accepted by the cabinet. Now all that the administration needs to do is issue a government resolution (GR) so that the policy can be implemented. The GR, which was to be issued earlier this month, has yet again been delayed. The state says it wants to issue the GR in January 2011 after considering public opinion.
    "There is absolutely no need for the delay. We have already taken public opinion into account while drafting the policy. We held meetings with the public in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to gauge what people wanted," said transport expert Indrani Malkani, a member of the state-appointed committee.
    The committee's report details how to implement the school bus project. For starters, it makes school principals responsible for the transportation system. While children cannot use private transport to school, they are free to walk to school or use public transport. The benefits of the system are two-fold: it decongests the roads, and provides a safe, secure and efficient mode of transport for schoolchildren.
    In 2002, Malkani—along with Mira Isaacs, principal of Cathedral & John Connon School, and Himanshu Roy, then DCP traffic—drafted a school bus system for Cathedral. The system, which ensured that all children came to school by bus, was a huge success. Besides creating strict safety guidelines for the system, an efficient route was charted out using a computer software which ensured that children spent the shortest possible time travelling to school.
    Over the last eight years, several city schools have adopted Cathedral's system. In fact, the government-appointed committee to draft a school bus policy was set up to implement a system along the same lines. Now that it's ready, all that the government needs to do is to issue a GR.
    Transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who has been instrumental in speeding up the process of devising a policy on the issue, says the delay is because of certain legal hassles that the government is trying to overcome. Once the policy is passed, he said, nobody should challenge it in court.
    But Malkani feels that all legal issues have been addressed in the contract that the policy suggests between schools and bus contractors. The system was first implemented in Cathedral in 2002. If there were legal issues, Malkani says, they would have been brought up by now.
    Frustrated with the delay in the implementation of the policy, many involved in the system are afraid that it will take another gruesome school bus accident to force the government to kick the ball into the goalpost.
SAFE JOURNEY
No student will be allowed to come to school in any vehicle other than the school bus. The only exception is for students who walk to school or use public transport
Every school shall have a transport committee to look into the safe transportation of children, transportation fees, identification of bus stops and vehicle fitness
The school principal shall be responsible for the children's ride to and from the school
Bus drivers will have to submit annual medical certificates to the school
Children will have to be insured by their parents and school bus owners shall obtain third party insurance for every vehicle
The transport contractor shall employ attendants; the bus staff is not permitted to play music on the vehicle
Every school bus shall carry information on every student, including the child's blood group and contact numbers
Route numbers must be clearly displayed on the bus
No food or drinks shall be offered to the children on the bus by the staff unless it is provided by the school
Bus doors must be closed while the vehicle is in motion
Penalties will be levied if the rules are broken

>>>

On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 12:08 AM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

Here are some suggestions by Dr. Leo REBELLO to make school buses safer for the students and the public, see below.

Apart from the fact that the authorities have shown that there is hardly any interest in actually implementing the so called model school bus policy, it has already been delayed any number of times, and from what can be read, its going to be continuously postponed, and unlikely to be enforced.

With the result, it is a bad joke on the public, not to mention the hapless students.

The drivers continue to drive rashly, dangerously, totally violating all traffic rules, benignly overlooked by the operators and authorities.

See the attached picture, school bus with wide open windows, the student can fall out anytime.

But what does this matter with the

01 Parents

02 Schools

03 Transport Commissionerate

04 MTP

05 \School bus contractors

06 Members of the Model School Bus Committee, who do not see or experience the day to day antics of the bus drivers and operators

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/mumbai/New-school-bus-policy-delayed/Article1-605467.aspx

There is this school at Juhu, as an example, though it happens everywhere

http://rims.ac.in/1593-school-bus-letter/

But anyone who has been on both North and South bound roads at Juhu opposite Plam Gorve Hotel during school ending times during the day, will know how the bus drivers, car drivers of tgis school, have taken over the road.

The example of Podar school monopolising the Santa Cruz roads, Sai Ganesh, Tour India, Aroon Travels, SBS, and all others use strong arm tactics, having made syndicates and cartels, have no use for any traffic rules, leave alone model code.

If the MTP, and RTA can't enforce such simple and basic rules and guidelines for school buses, then, we have simply lost it, since children will be brought up from a young age that they can break any and every rule, and follow these

01 Rules are meant to be broken

02 Rules are meant for those who follow them

03 There should be no rules

Thanqx.

Jagdeep DESAI

Secretary

Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

www.forum4iqolms.org

>>>

>>>

New school bus policy delayed
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, September 28, 2010
First Published: 00:43 IST(28/9/2010)
Last Updated: 00:44 IST(28/9/2010)

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The implementation of a new policy for school buses has got delayed by six months as the state transport department has now decided to go through with it only by January 2011. The policy, which makes it mandatory for schools to have stipulated changes in buses, was supposed to be implemented from

June this year by every school.
"The new school bus policy would be ready for implementation by January 2011 and would be implemented in the next school term in June," said Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, state transport minister.
A detailed set of guidelines is already ready with the transport department and the only thing that is pending is an
approval from the state government.
"We would be issuing a government resolution (GR) in the coming days for implementing the new school bus policy,"
said C Sangitrao, transport secretary.
Once the new policy gets implemented, all circulars and notices distributed by the schools to its students and parents regarding the school buses would be overridden.
The policy lays down few points like school students cannot be ferried in private vehicles like Sumo, Qualis, or Omni in groups.
Also vehicles used for commercial purposes can't be used to ferry students, as it then becomes a business. Even autorickshaws can carry only 5 children at a time.

>>>

Norms to minimise misuse of beacon cars (HT 24 Sept. 10) is a good step.
Likewise, there should be norms for school buses.

1.. Absolutely no shrill horns in school buses.
2.. Engine should not make noise and emit noxious gases.

3.. Buses should not blow horn to call students who are late.
That leads to noise pollution as also indiscipline among

students and parents.
4.. There should be limited school bus stops. School buses

stopping at every 10 feet to pick up students, leads to pollution.
5.. School buses stopping at a road junction to pick up and

drop students is a safety hazard and should be penalised.
6.. Commuting time should be reduced so that small students

do not get tired.
7.. There should be no overloading.
8.. There should be fire extinguisher and safety box in
each school bus.

9.. The school bus drivers and conductors should receive

First Aid training.

Dr. Leo Rebello

Director, Natural Health Centre, Bombay
Tel. 28872741

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 7:10 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

In reference to the much publicised model school bus guidelines, etc.

Has any follow up check bee done on how the same is being implemented, if at all, by schools and school buses.

From what I have seen on a daily and hourly basis, not a single school bus driver worth his salt, follows traffic rules, on duty, or off duty.

What I wrote just a couple of months ago before the school year started, is coming true, and absolutely valid.

There are the Maruti Suzuki Omnis, Tata Sumos, Toyota Qualis, private and public autos , etc., which overload their vehicles, and go about ferrying school children in the most dangerous manner.

Its God's Grace no accidents have taken place, remember the explosion to the Maruti Suzuki Omni sometime ago.

School bus drivers are most casual, careless, couldn't care less about traffic rules.

Schools couldn't careless either, unless something untoward happens.

Roads are blocked by double parked school buses, parents and drivers want to give door to door delivery and pick up, and some areas are totally out of control in peak hours, like near fancy play schools where the luxury sedans and the Memsaabs bring their precocious, sorry, precious, little ones to play for few hours, wasting peoples time in the traffic while the interface takes place.

Same stories everywhere, on main roads, on side roads.

Authorities couldn't careless either, since nothing untoward happens.

There is no compliance, absolutely no enforcement.

The mind numbs when we see school children being driven by rash and brash drivers, totally flouting rules, the children will learn that it is absolutely okay to break all traffic rules, and the bus has 'how is my driving' written behind it.

Good joke by the contract bus operators.

Its alright to have it on paper, its another thing to see no nonsense implementation, zero tolerance to traffic offenses.

Our values are going, going, gone.

Anyway, life goes on.

Jagdeep DESAI
Architect

Secretary
Founder Trustee

Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

+91 98 6922 7148

>>>

On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

It is really unfortunate that the policy document remains mostly on paper, because no one bothers to check the actual position on road.

There is total free for all even after all the new guidelines, policies, what to say about existing traffic rules.

In the Western and Eastern Suburbs, school bus contractors and drivers are anyway not bothered to follow traffic rules and laws, what to mention model school bus service policy.

And the directive that no private vehicle within two hundred metes of the school to drop or pick up children is truly unimplementable.

Come to any school, say in Khar, Santa Cruz, anywhere, and see the fun, sorry, chaos and time pass, sorry time waste.

There is just no compliance, no enforcement, any one wants to see, I will take them for a free tour

01 Buses are not road worthy, rattle, squeek, have rusted and sharp metal parts, seats are in ramshackle condition, dark, dingy, dirty

02 Drivers are observed talking on mobile while driving, not in uniform, many times in banian, chewing pan and generally at peace with themselves

03 Stop and park anywhere, including no parking areas, corners, wrong way, BEST bus stops, double parking, occupying lengths and lengths of main roads in middle of traffic

04 Still using illegal horns freely, even in silence zones, in residential areas

05 Not yellow

06 No contact numbers of school or operator or authority

Etc.

In any case, the models school bus service policy focusses on software rather than

01 Fail safe driving by not only those with five years experience but with care

02 Following traffic rules

03 Not using school buses, instead any khatara bus body doubles as school bus with the words 'on school bus duty' painted lackadaisically and for formality only

04 Cleanliness, by not providing for the strictest enforcement by so called bus attendants, bus Mothers, by missing dust bins and waste containers for discarded packets, etc

05 Instead of GPRS system, etc., which bus has got lost in Mumbai, front, rear, and inside facing cameras as a rule, to record the safe and legal driving by drivers

06 Don't stop anywhere and everywhere to pick up and drop students, but have similar stops like for BEST buses, where school buses of all schools and operators must halt for children of that area

Etc.

As a user in my school days, and then observer since then, I still feel the main focus should be on safe and to rule driving, not only speed limit.

Everything else is just for feel good factors.

Why isn't BEST introducing dedicated school bus for children like Women's Special, on long routes in the general school hours.

Many children will utilise it if they are with the concession rates.

Thanqx.

Jagdeep

>>>

On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 9:27 PM, A.V.Shenoy <shenoyav@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Indrani

Good to know that your tireless efforts have finally resulted in framing of Rules and Regulations 2010 ....

In case you need any help in implementing the same at specific schools e.g. Queen Mary School you may call on me. I am sure others would also be willing to help in this cause which would save lives of many children.

Shenoy

From: Indrani Malkani

Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 8:06 PM

To: ajit shenoy ; sujitjp@gmail.com ; nandan.maluste@gmail.com ; sulakshana.mahajan@gmail.com ; rajendra_media@yahoo.com ; neerapunj@hotmail.com ; rajshri mehta ; leena prabhu ; concastindia@vsnl.com ; kisansbc@gmail.com ; cmb123@rediffmail.com ; waman.danait@gmail.com ; v.k. phatak ; ashok datar ; Jagdeep DESAI ; jeetu21@gmail.com

Cc: Sucheta Dalal ; sudhir badami gmail

Subject: RE: Govt scripts norms for safety on school buses - DNA

G'evening Ajit,

Yes the Rules and Regulations 2010..... is applicable to any bus used for the purpose of busing school children.

The media reports on Saturday in all the dailies have ovbiously not reported the entire Policy points. Once it is officially declared it will be a public document.

By the way, a whole set of documentation is also in place for the schools as to how they should implement the Service and is part of the Policy as well.

Needless to say and repeat, the entire Service/Policy is based on the successful Model School Bus Service and I have been part of all deliberations, being a member of the Government Committee to frame the Policy and also interacting with the Transport Minister, who has taken a great interest in the whole matter.
Afterall, the Model School Bus Service has been a great success...eight years running!!

Sometimes, as I read mails from various transport activists giving their suggestions on the subject, I do wonder at some of them, as to why they have NEVER acknowledged in their mails the existence of this successful Model which has been and is still being implemented in Mumbai even whilst the Policy was being drafted, and now ofcourse to be officially declared.

The first school in the western suburbs, Bai Avabai Petit Girls High School is flagging off the Bus Service tomorrow the 7th of June and in the city, Campion School is flagging off the Bus Service on Wednesday the 9th of June. I have put the Service together for both the schools at their invitation.

Thanks for keeping in touch,

Best wishes
Indrani Malkani

From: shenoyav@gmail.com
To: sujitjp@gmail.com; nandan.maluste@gmail.com; sulakshana.mahajan@gmail.com; rajendra_media@yahoo.com; neerapunj@hotmail.com; rajshrimehta@yahoo.com; write2god@yahoo.com; concastindia@vsnl.com; kisansbc@gmail.com; shenoyav@gmail.com; cmb123@rediffmail.com; waman.danait@gmail.com; vphatak@vsnl.net; datar.ashok@gmail.com; jagdeep.desai@gmail.com; jeetu21@gmail.com; indranimalkani@hotmail.com
Subject: Govt scripts norms for safety on school buses - DNA
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 08:44:13 +0530

Will this also apply to BEST buses being used exclusively as school buses?

Shenoy

Govt scripts norms for safety on school buses

Surendra Gangan / DNA

Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:47 IST

Mumbai: Safety of schoolchildren is of paramount concern to the state government.

The school bus draft policy, framed by the state transport department, is expected to be approved in the next cabinet meeting and puts the onus of students' safety on school principals.
The draft also lays down norms, including the lifespan, for vehicles used to ferry schoolchildren.
"The committee headed by principals and comprising parents, PTA members and teachers will be set up at the school level to ensure that the norms are followed by the contractor. In case of any eventuality or violation of rules, the principal will be held responsible," chief minister Ashok Chavan said on Friday.
Chavan reviewed the policy framed by the transport department on Friday.
The norms state school buses will be given special permits and must be yellow in colour. The driver should have at least five years of experience and an attendant must be present on the bus always.
The contractor must have a list of the students travelling in the vehicle along with their blood groups and ensure only the prescribed number of students travel in the vehicle.
The speed limit of the buses will be restricted to 50kmph with the help of an in-built mechanism. "Safety doors and sufficient moving space are other requirements in the draft," an official said.
The policy also talks about restricting the lifespan of the buses to eight years. However, the contractors and operators oppose the move and want the duration increased to 15 years.
"They (the contractors) claimed that since the buses are not allowed to be used for any other purpose, it won't be feasible to discard them in eight years," the official said.
Vehicles, other than buses, need to obtain special permit to ferry students. "But autorickshaws are totally banned from ferrying schoolchildren. In the metropolis, they will have to phased out in a year, while in smaller cities, the period is two years. Autos in rural areas can be phased out in three years," transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said.
He added bus contractors and operators will be given special concessions such as rebate in taxes to encourage schools to have their own buses.

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