Don’t stop school buses with children in them for checks, state tells Mumbai RTOs

Directive issued by transport authority following complaints that school children are getting late to school and home because of inspections

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has instructed all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to not conduct inspections of school buses while they are ferrying children, following complaints made by parents, school administrations and bus owners.

HT File Photo

RTO officials present at the meeting, chaired by state transport secretary Manoj Saunik last week, said the MMRTA decided to issue this directive so that children travelling on board school buses and their parents are not hassled. “The decision will be applicable for the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR),” said an RTO official, who did not wish to be identified.

Students either get late to reach school or home, if their buses are stopped for verification of documents such as vehicle registration and fitness renewal, or for checks on whether the bus is using speed regulators,” the RTO official said. “It is worrying for parents when their children’s bus reaches late unexpectedly.”

The MMR has around 8,000 school buses that have received permits under the school bus rules implemented since 2011.