Admn tightens noose around school buses flouting norms in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 17

On the directions of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the district administration on Monday launched a crackdown on vehicles ferrying children sans following guidelines. During a major drive, a total of 140 buses were checked and 48 were challaned. The administration also impounded nine vehicles.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Varinder Kumar Sharma said in the morning, various officials of the district administration started a drive to check school vehicles ferrying schoolchildren without foolproof measures.

The DC said during the checking, the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA), checked 41 school buses and challaned 26. The DC added that six buses were impounded. Similarly, the Jalandhar II SDM checked 45 buses and challaned seven. The SDM also ordered to impound two buses for violating rules.

The DC added that the Nakodar SDM checked 14 buses and of these, four were challaned. Similarly, the Shahkot SDM checked 10 vehicles and challaned three. The Phillaur SDM checked 30 vehicles and challans were issued to eight vehicles. The administration impounded one bus on the occasion.

“To ensure the safety and security of schoolchildren, the Chief Minister had issued direction to launch a drive to check roadworthiness of buses and other vehicles which ferry kids. The drive will continue in the coming days. I will personally monitor the drive to ensure the safety and security of children,” said the DC.

19 vehicles challaned in Nawanshahr

DC Vinay Bublani said SDMs of all three subdivisions inspected 73 school buses and issued challans to 19 for violating norms in the district. He said of these school vehicles, eight were challaned in Balachaur, six in Nawanshahr and five in Banga.

He asked DSP (Traffic) Deepika Singh to collect the data of all school vehicles ferrying students so that a proper action plan could be prepared. The DC also directed the SDMs to keep on a check these school vehicles on a regular basis to ensure the safety of school-going children.

Officials act tough in Hoshiarpur

As many as 70 school buses were challaned for violating rules in the district. In the Hoshiarpur subdivision, 68 school buses were checked and 24 were challaned. Similarly, 50 buses were checked in Garhshankar and 23 were challaned.

Mukerian SDM Ashok Kumar checked 46 buses and 18 were challaned. Similarly, during a checking conducted by Dasuya SDM Jyoti Bala, five buses were challaned.

DC Apneet Riyait said the Safe School Vehicle Scheme was being strictly implemented in the district and if any school vehicle violated the rules, strict legal action would be taken.

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