179 responses to draft school bus policy, sent to Maharashtra govt

Mumbai: The state transport department has received 179 objections and suggestions to the draft school bus policy, which calls for regulating the fare and fixing the base fare per kilometre per student for school buses, educational institution buses and school vans.Transport commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said officials have gone through all the suggestions and objections made by individuals and organisations/associations and the file has been sent to the state law and judiciary department. “The state govt will take a final call before making any amendment or issuing a notification.”One of the biggest concerns raised by School Bus Owners’ Association was the mandatory installation of vehicle location tracking devices.

Operators said the approved system currently costs nearly Rs 15,000 per vehicle, with an annual subscription of around Rs 5,000. They said only a handful of manufacturers have been approved, which keeps competition limited and prices high. In the open market, such devices are available for Rs 2,000-3,000, with monthly charges of about Rs 150, they said.Operators also said the proposal to mandate seatbelts in school buses deserved reconsideration.

They said fastening and unfastening belts for children at every stop would consume time, slow down operations and cause traffic congestion. They said seating systems designed for adults might not suit children.During the legislature’s budget session, assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar had directed the transport department to ensure that vehicles that ferry schoolchildren be given separate permits, pending fulfilment of necessary conditions such as installation of CCTVs and GPS.