PMPML’s school bus service draws flak

However,PMPML spokesperson,Deepak Pardeshi,said these buses ferry school students only during school timings. The rest of the time,they are used as regular passenger buses. “We have a route board declaring that it is a school bus. As the buses ferry other passengers also,we cannot make structural changes to them. The problem of over-crowding may be solved in two or three months after we get new buses and assign a few for school duty,” said Pardeshi.

Asked about the safety norms these buses are required to follow,Regional Transport Officer,Arun Yeola said,“Safety norms for these buses are different as the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulation for School Buses),Rules 2011 are applicable only to contract carriage permit buses. PMPML buses have stage carriage permits like other commercial vehicles. For public transport bodies like PMPML,there are various exemptions in terms of fire extinguishers,first aid boxes,etc. However,overloading is a valid complaint as can only carry 25 per cent more passengers than their seating capacity.”