Transport department cracks down on school vehicles flouting norms

The district transport department on Wednesday took action against the vehicles flouting norms, especially school vehicles, with district transport officers (DTOs) from other districts deployed in the operation here.

The district transport department on Wednesday took action against the vehicles flouting norms, especially school vehicles, with district transport officers (DTOs) from other districts deployed in the operation here.

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District transport officer Latif Ahmad said that DTOs of four other districts were deployed here to conduct the drive against the vehicles. He said that the exact number of vehicles impounded or penalised during the drive is still not available as all the DTOs have sent their reports to the state transport commissioner directly.

Meanwhile, irked over the action, representatives of the School And College Bus Operators Association blocked a road at Harraipur. The association alleged that as many as 30 school vehicles were impounded during the drive. President of association Gurpreet Singh alleged that the transport department was targeting only school vehicles.

He said that school van operators from Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot, Barnala and Fazilka districts would go on an indefinite strike from Friday against the action. The department has been maintaining that they are acting against school vehicles according to the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court to ensure safety of school children.