Gurugram Admin Ensures Student Safety with School Bus Fitness Drive

In a significant move to ensure the safety of school children, the Gurugram administration embarked on a comprehensive verification drive under the Surakshit School Vahan policy. This initiative aimed at inspecting the fitness of school buses saw the issuance of challans to 184 buses for non-compliance with safety standards. The drive, which took place over the weekend, scrutinized over 2,700 buses from more than 500 private schools in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, alongside DCP Traffic Virender Vij and other officials, led the operation. The first day of this campaign witnessed the inspection of 795 buses. The verification process was conducted at five different locations across the district, with the campaign set to continue into Sunday.

The Gurugram traffic police played a crucial role in this safety campaign by taking stringent actions against school vehicles that violated traffic regulations and fitness norms. A total of 336 school buses and vans were issued challans on Saturday alone, with 20 of these vehicles being impounded for severe violations.

According to an official statement, the primary objective of this campaign is to ensure a safe travel experience for students using school vehicles. The inspection covered various safety aspects, with 184 buses failing to meet the criteria outlined in a 24-point checklist. These vehicles were subsequently challaned by both the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and the police department.

DC Yadav highlighted that the inspection of over 2,700 buses from 527 schools is a part of this extensive campaign and will proceed into Sunday. Additionally, any school vehicle missed during this weekend's drive will be inspected on Wednesday, coinciding with the school holiday of Ram Navami. Yadav also issued a stern warning against any schools that fail to cooperate with this safety initiative, stating that strict action will be taken to enforce compliance.

This verification drive underscores the administration's commitment to student safety and sets a precedent for other districts to follow in ensuring that school transportation adheres to the highest safety standards.