6,052 school buses, vans inspected by Pune RTO; 340 found violating norms

Following the recent case of sexual assault of two minor girls by a school van driver, the RTO intensified its crackdown on school vehicles.

2 min readPuneOct 8, 2024 09:16 PM IST

The RTO inspected around 1,025 school vehicles, including buses and vans, of which nearly 340 were found in violation of RTO guidelines. (File)

The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) flying squad has found that in the last six months, nearly 35 per cent of school vehicles it inspected were found not complying with transport norms.

Last month, the RTO shared data showing that nearly half of the 6,052 school buses and vans in Pune were operating with expired fitness certificates, raising concerns about the safety of schoolchildren.

After noticing a rise in cases of illegal vehicles being operated by schools in Pune, the RTO began inspections in April, which continued through September. The RTO inspected around 1,025 school vehicles, including buses and vans, of which nearly 340 were found in violation of RTO guidelines.

Following the recent case of sexual assault of two minor girls by a school van driver, the RTO intensified its crackdown on school vehicles.

Deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle shared data revealing that out of these 338 vehicles, 146 are buses and vans operating legally but not adhering to norms, while the other 192 are private vehicles operating illegally. These inspections have resulted in fines amounting to Rs 36.28 lakh.

In addition to regular inspections, the RTO is conducting special drives in specific areas such as Vishrantwadi, Wadgaon Sheri, Viman Nagar, Wagholi, Hadapsar, Lonikand, Saswad, Satara Road, Bibwewadi, Katraj, and Khadi Machine Chowk.

Bhosle said under these special drives, the RTO visits schools to ensure that school authorities are following the guidelines and to raise awareness about the safety of girls in school vehicles.

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As per the report of the October 4 drive, during which four RTO squads were assigned, 117 memos were issued after visits to 18 schools, and fines of around Rs 4.75 lakh were recovered in a single day.

Shubham Tigga

Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More

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