Putting emphasis on child safety, GB Nagar starts inspection of school buses

To ward off any potential risk in safety of children in the new session, the transport department of Gautam Budh Nagar has started inspection of school buses in the district.

The transport department carried out inspections at ten schools of the city. They checked 76 school buses on the first day of inspection and fount 2 buses violating the norms. There are more than 1500 school buses plying in the city.

According to SK Singh, assistant road transport officer (administration) of Gautam Budh Nagar, there was no CCTV cameras and first aid box in two of the school buses of Ramagya School in Sector-50.

“We also found three of the school vans of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sector-24 plying illegally on the roads, so we did the challan and seized the van,” Singh said.

The buses were checked based on the eleven-point checklist taken from the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court. The same kind of inspection will be done again on Sunday.

“The vehicles, which flouted norms, have been asked to rectify it within seven days and get them rechecked. If they don’t follow the instructions, the transport department will take required action against them,” Singh informed.

Here is the checklist:

• Whether “School Bus” is clearly written on the bus or not.
• Whether the school's name and phone number have been written on the body of the bus.
• Whether there is a horizontal grill or net on the bus's windows.
• Whether or not a footboard has been installed on the door for children to climb in and out.
• Whether there are CCTV cameras installed in the bus.
• Whether there are fire extinguishers in the bus.
• Whether there is first aid box in the school bus.
• Whether the speed governor or speed limiter is installed in the bus.
• Whether emergency exit is installed.
• Has a pressure horn been installed or not.
• Other guidelines which include various issues like colour, cleanliness, pollution clearance, vehicle papers etc.