Sonepat to launch special campaign for school vehicle safety from today
Following directives from Deputy Commissioner Dr Manoj Kumar, the Sonepat administration will launch a special campaign to inspect school vehicles in the district starting tomorrow. The initiative, spearheaded by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), aims to ensure the safety of students and compliance with the Surakshit School Vahan Policy.
In preparation, the district’s traffic wing yesterday conducted a preliminary inspection of school vehicles, issuing challans to 41 vehicles, including buses, for violating traffic rules.
The Sonepat administration has set a target to reduce accidental deaths by 20% in the current calendar year. Last year, 319 fatalities were reported in road accidents, with 25 deaths occurring in December alone.
At a recent meeting of the Road Safety and Surakshit School Vahan Policy committee, Dr Manoj Kumar directed Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to conduct rigorous inspections of school vehicles across the district. “Our priority is the safety of schoolchildren. Vehicles found operating without permits or failing safety standards will be seized,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
The Deputy Commissioner also instructed the District Education Officer (DEO) to compile a comprehensive list of school buses and submit it to sub-divisional committees. Schools have been asked to create a database of drivers and conductors and submit it within a month, with copies forwarded to Station House Officers (SHOs) and the RTA Secretary.
Amit Kumar, SDM and RTA Secretary, announced that the special campaign would focus on checking vehicle documents, including pollution certificates, permits and validity, as well as adherence to safety norms. “Any discrepancies found during the inspections will result in strict action. Schools must comply with the Surakshit School Vahan Policy or they will also face penalties,” warned Kumar.
Meanwhile, Rahul Dev, ACP (Traffic), highlighted the district police’s proactive efforts. “We have already launched a campaign to ensure the safety of schoolchildren. On Monday, we challaned 41 vehicles for traffic violations. This campaign will continue to ensure compliance,” he said.
The Sonepat administration has emphasised that it will not compromise on the safety and security of students, urging all schools and transport providers to meet prescribed standards.
