School buses without fitness certs to face action

Nashik: The Regional Transport Office, Nashik, has warned school bus owners of strict action if fitness checks for their vehicles are not completed before May 31.
Officials have said they can even suspend the permit of school buses found operating without the RTO's fitness certificate issued to them during the special drive being conducted this month.
Assistant regional transport officer Sudam Suryawanshi said on Friday, "The drive aims to ensure the safety of school students travelling by buses. The inspection started from May 1 and buses that acquired the certificate recently will also have to be brought to the RTO for reinspection."
Suryawanshi said the RTO would not be charging any fees for the reinspection of school buses, hence, all owners of school buses should get their vehicles reinspected during the special drive that will end go on till May 31.
There are about 8,000 school buses under the jurisdiction of the Nashik RTO. . RTO officials said they have already sent letters to the owners of school buses and schools to bring the vehicles for reinspection, as per instructions from the transport commissioner office, Mumbai.
Nashik regional transport officer Jeevan Bansod had said there are certain specifications for school buses that have to be followed to ensure maximum safety of the students. "We have also appealed to schools to hold a meeting with parents and initiate the process of starting buses at the school level," he said. Suryawanshi said the RTO would not be charging any fees for the reinspection of school buses, hence, all owners of school buses should get their vehicles reinspected during the special drive until May 31.