Kids on yellow buses,monitored by police,school transport panels

The government will also introduce a special permit for vehicles ferrying schoolchildren,with regulations on the type of vehicle,capacity,equipment on board,staff to be employed and identity cards for drivers.

The government began plans to draft such a policy after a school bus caught fire in Navi Mumbai last August,killing three children and leaving 20 injured. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had earlier this month approved the policy in principle,along with the regulations for vehicles with special permits for ferrying children to school.

“Our state will be the first to have separate rules and laws for vehicles carrying schoolchildren. There will be compulsory permits for these vehicles. The responsibilities of the school administration,the contractor and the RTO have been fixed,” Chavan said.

The state has asked all schools to constitute a transport committee headed by the principal. A district-level panel including the police commissioner or superintendent of police will also be formed.

Bus owners will have to pay Rs 100 per seat per year for the permit and install fire extinguishers and first-aid kits in the bus. Buses will also have a speed governor,a device to regulate speed.

Though the government was contemplating phasing out autorickshaws as vehicles transporting schoolchildren,it has instead put severe restrictions and will initiate police action against drivers who cross the limit for children they can carry. Chavan said it is not possible to phase out autorickshaws immediately as there are not enough buses.

State school bus policy highlights
* Yellow school buses
* Transport committees in schools,headed by principal
* District-level panels headed by police officials
* Driver with 5 years’ experience
* List and addresses of students on board
* Device to regulate speed
* Compulsory fire extinguishers,safety equipment