Meer Irfan
The Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO), Shopian conducted a drive against school buses for not following the laid down norms related to the safety of students.
The ARTO officials conducted inspection of school buses on Shopian-Keller route near Zawura village and the crackdown resulted into scrutiny of nearly 30 buses.
Most of the school buses were found plying with expired documents and violating Supreme Court guidelines and were challaned onspot. It is pertinent to mention schools reopened in Kashmir this month after two years because of Covid SOPs in place.
Assistant Regional transport officer Muazzam Ali said crucial checks such as validity of Fitness Certificate, transportation permit, vehicle insurance and compliance with the Supreme Court guidelines were part of the drive against errant operators. ARTO Telephonically contacted various School authorities onspot and directed them to renew the documents of vehicles within a weeks time.
The school buses have to follow certain guidelines like installation of fire extinguishers, fixing of grill on the windows, installation of GPS and facilitating first-aid box with necessary medicines and equipment in the vehicle.