Mumbai: A one-member committee, led by retired transport officer Jitendra Patil, was designated to formulate new regulations for school buses commencing next academic year, with findings to be presented within the forthcoming month, announced transport minister Pratap Sarnaik on Monday.
Furthermore, recommendations proposed by the Madan Committee in 2011, to regulate the arbitrary conduct of rickshaw drivers transporting pupils, will be incorporated. This comprehensive assessment will form the foundation for school bus regulations implementation in the upcoming academic year, he said.
The transport department received grievances from parents concerning privately operated school buses throughout the state. These vehicles primarily operate for 10 months during the academic calendar, yet operators collect fees for the entire year upfront, which parents deem excessive. The simultaneous collection of school and transport fees creates a substantial financial strain on families, which many consider inequitable. Parents advocate for monthly payments spanning the 10-month operational period rather than the current annual collection system.
The decision to form a one-member panel was taken at a meeting chaired by Sarnaik in Mantralaya. Recent distressing incidents in Panvel and Badlapur highlighted safety concerns. Each bus must be equipped with essential safety features, including panic buttons, fire suppression sprinklers, GPS tracking systems, and CCTV cameras. Organisations and drivers managing school transport services should maintain centralised surveillance of CCTV systems to prevent potential incidents involving pupils.
Earlier this month, the School Bus Owners’ Association announced a hike of 18% in bus fees from April 1. Anil Garg from SBOA said, “The hike is due to increase in procurement costs of buses, huge maintenance costs and pay hikes of staffers.”