MUMBAI:
An amended draft of the school bus safety policy has been uploaded on the state
government website and authorities have invited suggestions and objections from
the public till May 22.
The
amendments were made after the School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA) objected
to certain clauses in the previous draft.
"We were being told by the authorities that our demands are valid and the amendments would be made," said SBOA president Anil Garg. Bus owners agreed to installation of speed governors and two fire extinguishers in vehicles with a capacity of over 20, which they had opposed earlier. However, they are agitated over the clause that compels them to have an exit door in buses. "While this measure involves higher costs, moreover, well not be allowed to use the buses for a long period as the maximum age limit in Mumbai is only eight years," added Garg. Busowners outside Mumbai are complaining that schools are reneging on signing an agreement with them. "Many schools in Kalyan and Navi Mumbai have written to us saying that they don't want to sign an agreement. How does the state government expect us to function?" asked a bus contractor. SBOA has objected to a clause in the draft which allows three-wheeler autorickshaws with a capacity of 12 to ferry schoolchildren. "The home department has told us that this is applicable in rural areas, however, the draft is silent on the same," said Garg. "Why will parents send their children in schoolbuses if private vans and autorickshaws ferry students? The department must clear the air," he added.
Note | Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) (First Amendment) Rules 2012 – Draft (Attached Herewith).
Source | Times of India | 11 May 2012
"We were being told by the authorities that our demands are valid and the amendments would be made," said SBOA president Anil Garg. Bus owners agreed to installation of speed governors and two fire extinguishers in vehicles with a capacity of over 20, which they had opposed earlier. However, they are agitated over the clause that compels them to have an exit door in buses. "While this measure involves higher costs, moreover, well not be allowed to use the buses for a long period as the maximum age limit in Mumbai is only eight years," added Garg. Busowners outside Mumbai are complaining that schools are reneging on signing an agreement with them. "Many schools in Kalyan and Navi Mumbai have written to us saying that they don't want to sign an agreement. How does the state government expect us to function?" asked a bus contractor. SBOA has objected to a clause in the draft which allows three-wheeler autorickshaws with a capacity of 12 to ferry schoolchildren. "The home department has told us that this is applicable in rural areas, however, the draft is silent on the same," said Garg. "Why will parents send their children in schoolbuses if private vans and autorickshaws ferry students? The department must clear the air," he added.
Note | Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) (First Amendment) Rules 2012 – Draft (Attached Herewith).
Source | Times of India | 11 May 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment