21 May,2011 06:16 AM IST | | Kranti Vibhute
After state's new policy on safety measures for school buses necessitated several modifications in the vehicles, bus owners hike fees by Rs 240 in coming academic year
Want a secure service for ferrying your child to school? Pay more, say school bus owners in the city, who have decided to hike the bus fee from Rs 600 to Rs 840 per month from the coming academic year.
A meeting between the School Bus Owners Association and PTA was held at Chetna College, Bandra, yesterday to discuss safety measures employed in school transport
The decision comes after the government announced a new safety policy for school buses (see box).
At a meeting held at Chetna College in Bandra yesterday, the School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA) discussed the practicality of implementing the safety measures, also applicable to BEST buses contracted by schools, with the transport commissioner in the presence of parents and teachers.
Anil Garg, president of SBOA, said, "Because of so many modifications for the buses made mandatory by the new government policy, we will hike our fees from Rs 600 to Rs 840."
He further said, "It is not practical to scrap all of these buses, which are eight years old. There won't be enough to ferry children if we phase them out. If the government really wants to scrap the old school buses, then this rule should be applicable to every public transport vehicle in the city."
According to Garg, one vehicle costs Rs 15 lakh, and the expenses will go up to Rs 2 lakh if the changes are done in the buses. While the new policy had initially generated relief and appreciation among parents worried about the wellbeing of their wards, its corollary of revised bus fees is unsavoury to them.
Most of them are distressed by the government's decision, and want it to rework the guidelines, which some say is designed to "loot the already financially-strained parents" (see box).u00a0
'Won't work'
The plight of the parents hasn't deterred the bus owners, bent on readjusting the fees and dismissive of other alternatives.
Garg, apparently, also seems to have a problem with the provision of the state policy that allows vans with a capacity of 12 children at most to be used as school buses.
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He said, "After a van met with an accident in Goregaon recently, which resulted in the deaths of many children, how can the government allow the vans to ferry students?"
"The rules are altered from time-to-time. The committee needs to understand that every requirements or modification cost us money," said Satish Acharya (36), assistant secretary of Panvel Richshaw Vidhyarthi Vahak Sanstha.
Acharya owns vans that are given out for transporting school students.u00a0
"As a school, we have already hired 37 buses. The procedure for the rules to function efficiently should be followed effectively.
The schools are going to start soon and we need to have a clear idea about the committee's expectation," said Radha Krishna, manager of Jamnabai Narsee School.
Officials speak
Said Transport Commissioner Dilip Jadhav, "Our main aim is safety of school children. Many schools in Mumbai and Thane and they are cooperating with us on this subject. The traffic police and education department also agree with us."
"Also, BEST buses that are contracted to schools will have to follow the policy rules," he added.
SK Sharma, principal secretary (Transport and Port), said, "Any changes in the policy will be done at the commissioner's level. If they fail, they will be made at the government level."
"The rules will help reduce congestion on roads. It will ensure safety, efficiency and the importance of public transport.
This idea was initiated so that poor children from rural areas do not have to face a problem while reaching school.
It will take time to implement, but will be beneficial for children," said Indrani Malkani, member of the State Committee on Safety and Coordinated Transport of School Children.
Safety Guidelines
According to the new Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2011, the guidelines are:
>> Each bus must have first aid boxes, fire extinguishers, convex cross view mirrors, hand rails, low-floor doors, emergency exits and speed governors.
>> All school buses must sport yellow bands
>> An operator will have to obtain a special permit from the RTO to operate a school bus
>> A driver of a school bus should haveu00a0 a minimum driving experience of five years
>> A school bus must be less than eight-years-old (the exemption for the CNG buses is 15 years)
>>Female attendants are mandatory in buses carrying girl students
>> Drivers cannot cross the speed limit of over 40 kmph within city limits and 50 kmph outside
Parents' take
My granddaughter is in Std I. Her school fee is Rs 850 per month and the school bus fee is Rs 600 per month. Increasing the fee in the name of safety is just a means of looting parents.
Riyaz Khan
Government rules and regulations are very vague. Increasing the school bus fees is not the right approach. I am already burdened with school fees of approximately Rs 3,000 for each of my two children. This hike is not acceptable.
Varghese T
This is absolutely unfair. The government needs to realise that most parents are working hard to make ends meet. If the hike goes through, we will have to start sending our children to BMC schools.
Namitabh Kothari
