Nagpur Police Issues Stern Warning on Illegal School Transportation
The Traffic Department of Nagpur City Police has issued a definitive warning regarding illegal school transportation, emphasizing that strict action will be taken against unauthorized vehicles ferrying students. Authorities have directed all schools in the region to ensure complete compliance with established transport norms and regulations.
Special Enforcement Teams Formed for City and Rural Areas
Speaking after a comprehensive review meeting held on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Lohit Matani revealed that separate enforcement teams have been constituted specifically for city and rural zones to check violations. "Both teams will include police personnel and Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials who will soon initiate drives against illegal school transport vehicles," stated Matani. He further clarified that the enforcement action will be intensified after the conclusion of ongoing school examinations.
Priority Targets: Unpermitted Vehicles and Lack of Formal Agreements
DCP Matani outlined the primary focus areas for the crackdown. The first priority will be vehicles illegally operating as school transport — those functioning like public transport vehicles, charging fees for ferrying children without possessing valid permits. Secondly, even vehicles that hold school bus permits but are operating without a formal, documented agreement with the concerned school will face stringent action.
"We clearly informed schools in the previous meeting that they must specify which vehicles are officially authorized to transport their students — whether they are school-owned buses or private operators," Matani emphasized. He stressed that if a vehicle is transporting students of a particular school, it must be officially recognized by that institution through a formal agreement.
Schools and Parents Given Clear Directives
The DCP issued clear directives to educational institutions and parents. "Schools will have to inform parents which buses are officially recognized. Parents should send their children only through authorized vehicles," he said. The enforcement strategy will differentiate between isolated violations and systemic non-compliance.
If a school has largely compliant transport arrangements but a stray vehicle is found operating without authorization, action will be taken solely against that operator. However, if inspections reveal that a majority of buses ferrying students to a particular school are unauthorized, the Traffic Department will submit a detailed report to the Education Officer for further disciplinary action against the institution itself.
Background: Tragic Accident and Legislative Pressure
This decisive move comes amid growing public and official concerns over student safety and the proliferation of unregulated private operators functioning without adequate oversight. The issue gained tragic prominence following an accident on September 12 last year. A school van and a school bus collided head-on on the Mankapur Flyover, resulting in the deaths of student Sanvi Khobragade and the van driver.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the school van involved was operating without a valid fitness certificate and other mandatory documents. The incident sparked major uproar among parents and citizens, leading to the issue being raised in the last winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature. The debate on student safety forced Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to suspend a senior RTO officer and announce multiple corrective measures.
Persistent Violations Despite Previous Actions
Even before this tragic event, multiple violations had been routinely reported in school transport vehicles, posing significant risks to children's lives. Authorities note that despite previous enforcement actions, violations have continued on the ground, necessitating this renewed and more rigorous crackdown by the Nagpur Traffic Police and RTO to ensure the safety of school-going children across the city and its rural outskirts.
