Let us inspect buses, parents tell Nerul school principal

Around 120 parents of students of Nerul’s Delhi Public School submitted a letter to the principal complaining about the school’s bus service. HT reports

Around 120 parents of students of Nerul’s Delhi Public School (DPS) submitted a letter to the principal complaining about the school’s bus service.

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The parents have stated that they have not been allowed to inspect the buses despite a clause in the bus contract providing for inspection.

They claim that the buses do not have speed governors and are not being run in line with existing laws.

“Buses are carrying more than the stipulated capacity of students, and our children have told us of instances of bus drivers racing each other and speeding on Palm Beach Road,” said Rohit Malhotra, one of the parents.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” he added.

Local corporator, Santosh Shetty, owns and operates the DPS school buses.

Under the new school bus policy, school authorities share the responsibility with contractors for students’ safety. “Contrary to the government’s school bus policy the principal is not willing to take responsibility for the bus service,” said a parent.

Last year, after two school bus accidents, the government set up a committee to draw up a policy for the safe transportation of school children.

The policy, finalised in June, stated that schools would be partially responsible for the safety of the students transported through the bus service.

The parents have also lodged a complaint with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Vashi.

“We will definitely look into the matter and will inspect the old vehicles being used to ply the schoolchildren,” said an official from the RTO, requesting anonymity because not authorised to talk to the media.

On Monday, one of Santosh Shetty’s buses transporting students of DAV School in Nerul, ran over the pavement and injured some hawkers.

Despite attempts to contact the DPS Principal, PC Chhabra, he remained unavailable for comment.

A teacher from the school, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter.