In a glaring example of administrative delay, a senior Regional Transport Office (RTO) officer in Nagpur continues to perform his official duties, more than a week after Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik publicly announced his suspension for dereliction of duty. The suspension was ordered in connection with a tragic road accident that claimed two lives.
The Tragic Incident and Ministerial Announcement
The sequence of events traces back to a horrific collision on September 12 on the Mankapur flyover in Nagpur. A school van and a school bus collided head-on, resulting in the death of 16-year-old student Sanvi Khobragade and the van driver. Subsequent investigations uncovered a shocking lapse: the school van involved was operating without a valid fitness certificate and other mandatory documents. Alarmingly, the RTO had previously issued a notice to the vehicle, but no consequential action was taken.
This fatal oversight triggered widespread public anger, particularly among parents, forcing the issue onto the floor of the state legislature during the recently concluded winter session. Responding to the outcry, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the suspension of the senior RTO officer for failing to act against the unfit vehicle in a timely manner. "No unfit vehicle will be allowed on roads. If the Nagpur RTO had acted earlier, the life of the driver and school student would have been saved," Sarnaik stated in the House.
A Suspension in Name Only
However, nine days after the ministerial order, the officer has not been formally relieved of his post. According to Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, official action will commence only after the department receives a certified copy of the Vidhan Sabha proceedings. This bureaucratic bottleneck has left the suspended officer in a limbo, still carrying out his official functions.
The delay has raised serious questions about accountability and the seriousness of the transport department's promises. Parents and citizens have expressed their frustration, stating that such hesitancy in implementing disciplinary action sends a dangerous message and further erodes public trust in the system meant to ensure road safety.
Persistent Gaps in Enforcement Exposed
Further undermining official claims of a crackdown, a recent investigation revealed that even three months after Sanvi's death, a staggering 364 school buses and vans in Nagpur city were still plying the roads without valid fitness certificates. This disclosure highlights a systemic failure in enforcement, contradicting the multiple corrective measures outlined by Minister Sarnaik during the session, which were aimed at tightening checks on school transport vehicles.
The situation presents a grim picture where announcements made on the legislative floor are not translating into immediate action on the ground. The continued presence of the RTO officer in office and the high number of non-compliant vehicles underscore a deep-seated issue of lax governance and enforcement, keeping the safety of schoolchildren hanging in the balance.
