New school bus policy delayed

The implementation of a new policy for school buses has got delayed by six months as the state transport department has now decided to go through with it only by January 2011.

The implementation of a new policy for school buses has got delayed by six months as the state transport department has now decided to go through with it only by January 2011.

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The policy, which makes it mandatory for schools to have stipulated changes in buses, was supposed to be implemented from June this year by every school.

“The new school bus policy would be ready for implementation by January 2011 and would be implemented in the next school term in June,” said Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, state transport minister.

A detailed set of guidelines is already ready with the transport department and the only thing that is pending is an
approval from the state government.

“We would be issuing a government resolution (GR) in the coming days for implementing the new school bus policy,”
said C Sangitrao, transport secretary.

Once the new policy gets implemented, all circulars and notices distributed by the schools to its students and parents regarding the school buses would be overridden.

Also vehicles used for commercial purposes can’t be used to ferry students, as it then becomes a business. Even autorickshaws can carry only 5 children at a time.