Years later, government arrives at school bus policy

Updated on: Wednesday, April 27, 2011

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 school children’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 licenses. The school committee will be headed by the principal and include a member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), 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 school children will have to sport yellow bands around it. No vehicle more than eight 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 of five years driving experience and a valid license.

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.

CHANGED COURSE

- Operators need to get special permits to operate school buses
- District committees to monitor the safety of these buses
- A transport committee to be set up in every school across Maharashtra
- Exclusive bus stops to be assigned for school buses
- All school buses to sport yellow colour or yellow bands
- Ban on over eight-year-old vehicles (15 years in case of CNG) operating as school buses
- Vehicles need to carry details of children on board and a route map. Also, they have to be equipped with first aid boxes, fire extinguishers, convex cross view mirrors, hand rails, low floor doors and emergency exits
- Drivers cannot cross speed limit of over 40 kmph within city limits and 50 kmph outside
- Van with a capacity of 12 can operate as a school bus
- Driver required to have at least five years experience and a valid driving licence
- Female attendants mandatory in buses carrying girl students

Years later, government arrives at school bus policy

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