VIJAYAWADA: As many as 426 school buses running in the district are yet to obtain fitness certificate, Road Transport Officer (Vijayawada) Ram Mohan Rao said. As part of efforts to reduce accidents involving school buses, 15 buses, without fitness certificates, were booked in different parts of the district on Monday.
Of the 2,757 school buses operating in Krishna district, 146 were unfit for further use. “We are taking stringent action against the schools who do not comply with rules. Even if they fail in fulfilling one requirement, we will send them back,” the RTO said.
As many as 150 school buses that have not complied with the requirements listed in Rule 185 (g), have been asked to fulfil them. “We have sent back the buses that did not follow the rules; most of these buses did not have a hand-break, first aid kit, or a fire extinguisher. Another requirement is that there must be three grills on both sides of a bus, and many buses do not have this,” said SB. Shekar, Motor Vehicle Inspector.
“Some buses have worn out tyres and some do not have emergency doors or proper paint on the vehicle. Amber flashlights and seats that are in good condition are also not there. During the check, we found some vehicles in a dangerous condition and unfit to ferry children in,” said M Harinadh Reddy, another Motor Vehicle Inspector.
Teams of Motor Vehicle Inspectors booked 15 out of 500 school buses for plying without a fitness certificate in Machilipatnam, Vuyyuru, Jaggayyapeta, Nandigama, Gudivada, and Nuzvid.