Rap school vans ferrying kids sans permits: SBOA

Mumbai: The school bus owners’ association has written a letter to the collector and government authorities, asking them to take an action against schools that are using vans and other small vehicles in large numbers to ferry students. According to the School Bus Owners Association (SBOA), vans are ferrying students without the necessary permission.

They are unsafe as they are carrying more children than it is permitted, and this could lead to accidents. While most schools offer bus services for students, several parents continue to send their children via private vans. The association feel these vans are often unsafe and illegal.

 Anil Garg, SBOA president, told The Asian Age, “I have written to the commissioner, transport, government and traffic authorities, demanding the cancellation of the permits of all school vans, with the retrospective effect.”

Mr Garg further added, “The matter is in court also, the kids travelling in van do not have the insurances and in 6-7 seats they are stuffed like animals, 15-16 kids in a single vans, if tomorrow any accident happens who will be responsible for this.”

“Our bus operators demanded stringent action against the school vans, calling them illegal. Questioned why the transport department did not take action against the vans after the new definition was introduced and also threatens to go on strike,” he said.

Transport department officials of Regional Transport Office (RTO) said, “That if small vans and vehicles are banned, then it will be a hurdle for children coming to and from schools, that will indirectly affect them. At the same time this situation will cause inconvenience to parents.”

SBOA has taken the matter to high court also and acting very seriously on it, since there are Centre's orders issued last year that is vehicles with a capacity lower than 13 seats cannot be used as school transport.

SBOA, also alleged that it is a harassment by the RTO, albeit last month after being refused permits due to safety concerns, have now slammed the double standards of the authorities for turning a blind eye to ‘unsafe’ 13-seater vans.

Bumpy Ride

• Carrying more children than the permitted number makes van unsafe.
• SBOA has written a letter to authorities, expressing their concern.
• They claim that vans are plying without necessary permits.