Collector finds deficiencies in at least 58 school buses

Ahead of schools reopening after summer vacation in June, the Transport Department and police officers conducted a joint inspection of vehicles, which transported children, here on Tuesday.

There are 1092 buses operated by various educational institutions, which are registered with the authorities in the city and suburban locations. Out of this, as many as 342 vehicles were inspected during the first 15 days of May by the respective RTOs and fitness certificates issued.

The rest of the vehicles were instructed to report for an on-the-spot inspection at the Armed Reserve Police grounds. The exercise, which began from 6 a.m., went on till 1 p.m.

Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao and other senior officers from the police, Transport, Education and other departments inspected the buses. The Aravind Eye Hospital conducted a free eye camp for the bus crew as a part of the inspection.

The officials found that in at least 58 buses the mandatory kits, such as first aid kit, were not maintained properly. Similarly, 208 vehicles were ordered to get the deficiencies rectified as per the MV Act and appear for another round of inspection before the respective RTOs prior to the reopening of schools.

Though all the buses had air horns, the drivers were ordered to remove them. However, some of the drivers said that they did not use the horn in ‘no horn’ zones and may be permitted to have them.

Transport officials said that the drivers would have to remove them or else the horns would be seized.

A total of 11 MV Inspectors from the three RTOs conducted the inspection with the team of police officers from the traffic wing.

A senior Transport department official said that but for some vehicles, a majority complied with the rules. Most of the bus crew were advised to wear spectacles and many had diabetes, he added.