Concession in taxes on vehicles for school children proposed: Patil

Mumbai, Mar 24 (UNI) In a bid to provide a safe mode of transport at affordable cost to school students, Maharashtra goverment proposes to provide concession on luxury and other taxes on vehicles purchased solely for the purpose of conveying such children.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today informed this in the Legislative Council while replying to a question raised by Zainuddin Zaveri, Sanjay Dutt, S Q Zama (all Congress) and others demanding action against transporters of school children who did not exercise proper caution.

The question was asked in the wake of the cylinder blast in a Maruti van on January 28 this year that had killed four children from the Jogeshwari-based Milat High school and injured eight.

Mr Patil said the cost of transportation provided by school authorities are some times high. Therefore, most of the parents preferred to send their children in private buses and other cheap modes of transport, which is dangerous.

Hence, the government proposes to provide concession on vehicles purchased specifically for school children. This will also allow school authorities or transporters to charge less fee from the students, he said.

Mr Patil also said that strict action will be taken against vehicles which are found plying and carrying school children illegally.

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