Akhilesh Chandra Saxena
Bareilly – Acting on the directives of the Divisional Commissioner, a large-scale inspection campaign was launched across the Bareilly division to crack down on unauthorized school vehicles. The campaign aimed to identify and penalize vehicles violating safety norms, ensuring the safety of students across Bareilly, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, and Pilibhit districts.
Bareilly District Findings
Inspections were conducted at 11 private schools, including Bedi International School, G.D. Goenka, and Nalanda Public School. Out of 28 vehicles inspected, 9 were found non-compliant with safety standards. These vehicles have been flagged for violating key norms such as fitness requirements and registration standards.
Badaun District Action
In Badaun, officials inspected vehicles from schools such as Sunbeam Public School and APS School. Seven vehicles were issued challans for violations. Among them, five belonged to APS School, while one each from Sunbeam Public School and Shiv Devi Inter College was also found non-compliant.
Shahjahanpur District Checks
A random inspection of 70 vehicles was conducted across urban and rural areas in Shahjahanpur. While most urban vehicles complied with regulations, 6 vehicles in rural areas were flagged for violations. These included vehicles from Delhi World Public School, Cambridge Convent, and Rana Public School, where multiple vehicles were found lacking valid fitness certifications.
Pilibhit District Crackdown
In Pilibhit, inspections were focused on major schools and traffic hotspots like Vidya Mandir Chauraha and Gauhaniya Chauraha. Officials penalized 14 unauthorized vehicles, including 2 auto-rickshaws and 12 e-rickshaws. Among these, 10 vehicles were seized and 4 were taken off the roads due to expired fitness certifications or lack of registration.
Previous campaigns in October and November had also flagged 23 unfit school vehicles, leading to the suspension of 20 vehicle registrations. Authorities highlighted recurring issues with unauthorized vehicles such as auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws being used for student transportation.
Divisional Commissioner’s Statement
The Divisional Commissioner expressed concern over recurring violations, emphasizing that non-compliance with safety norms poses significant risks to students’ lives. He urged parents to ensure their children use vehicles that meet established safety standards.
In a directive to district authorities, the Commissioner instructed them to engage with school management and vehicle owners to guarantee compliance. He warned that strict action, including fines and decommissioning, would be taken against violators.
The inspection campaign highlights the administration’s commitment to student safety, urging stakeholders to prioritize compliance with transportation norms.
