The PuducherryTransport Department on Saturday started an inspection of all vehicles owned by educational institutions in Puducherry, to ascertain their fitness before the commencement of this year’s academic session.
On day one of the inspection, a team of officials led by Transport Commissioner A. S Sivakumar checked 281 vehicles, of the total 982 school/college buses plying in Puducherry, at a special camp held at Mettupalayam Truck Terminal. The officials checked the fitness of the vehicles, working experience of drivers and the maintenance of vehicle records.
Mr Sivakumar told The Hindu that stickers have been affixed on 161 vehicles as they were found to have complied with all road safety norms. Around 120 vehicles have been asked to re-appear for inspection after installing vehicle tracking devices, he said.
The vehicles were checked mainly to ascertain whether they have adhered to the Supreme Court guidelines on road safety. Though installation of vehicle tracking equipment is not in the guidelines mandated by the SC, the Transport Department is using this opportunity to fix GPS devices on these vehicles. Installation of the device would help the Department to track movement of the vehicles, he said. The 161 vehicles which were given clearance on Saturday have already installed this equipment and are connected to the control room of the department.
The inspection will continue on Sunday.
