Kapurthala district authorities have taken stringent action against school buses found violating safety regulations, with five vehicles being challaned during a special inspection drive aimed at reinforcing the Safe School Vahan Policy.
School Buses Fined Amidst Safety Drive
The Kapurthala district administration conducted a thorough inspection of school buses on Thursday, as part of a broader initiative to ensure the safety and security of students commuting to educational institutions. The operation, focused on upholding the Safe School Vahan Policy, resulted in penalties for multiple school buses found non-compliant with established safety norms. This proactive measure underscores the administration’s commitment to student welfare.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the inspection team comprised several key officials. These included RTO Harkamal Singh, who led the technical aspects of the inspection; District Child Protection Unit officials Ramanpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh, representing child welfare concerns; traffic in-charge Resham Singh, focusing on road safety; and Surjit Singh from the police department, ensuring law and order during the operation. Together, these officials examined a total of 19 school buses, identifying significant deviations from safety standards in five of them.
The challaned buses were found to be in violation of critical safety provisions mandated by the Safe School Vahan Policy. Following the inspection, the team issued clear directives to the managements of various schools, emphasizing the imperative for strict adherence to all clauses of the policy. Officials specifically highlighted several non-negotiable safety requirements that must be met by all school transport services.
Among the key safety mandates reiterated by the inspection team were the mandatory presence of a female attendant on buses carrying girl students, the installation and functionality of CCTV cameras within all buses to monitor activities, ensuring that drivers and other staff employed for student transport have no prior criminal records, the implementation of speed limiters to prevent excessive speeding, and the necessity of fully equipped first-aid kits and functional fire extinguishers on board every vehicle. These measures are designed to create a secure environment for students from the moment they board the bus until they reach their destination.
The officials issued a stern warning to school managements, urging them to prioritize compliance with all stipulated regulations. They emphasized that the safety of students is paramount and that any lapse in adhering to the Safe School Vahan Policy would not be tolerated. The administration made it clear that further strict action, including potential suspension of permits or heavier penalties, would be implemented in the coming days for any school vehicles found to be in violation of these essential safety standards. This drive aims to preempt any potential accidents and ensure a secure commuting experience for the students of Kapurthala.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
