Ill-planned RTO drive finds only two school buses flouting norms

On the first day of an extensive drive against errant school buses violating the new school bus policy, the traffic department found only two bus operators violating the norms. The number could have been higher had the traffic officials planned it well.

Clueless officials: Traffic authorities were spotted in areas where hardly any school buses ply. Pics/Krunal Gosavi

The drive, which also targeted four-wheelers using tinted glasses, was a combined drive carried out by the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials and traffic police department.

According to the RTO inspector Salim Munshi, who was in-charge of the drive, the campaign kicked off at 11 am in various parts of the city like Hadapsar, Nagar Road, MG Road, Fergusson College Road and JM Road. It carried on till 1.30 pm and only 16 offences were registered during this duration.

MiD DAY had accompanied the officials on the drive, but it was observed that the officers were clueless as to the school timings and, moreover, had positioned themselves at spots where school buses don't ply.

At 12 pm, RTO inspectors along with traffic cops stood at the Fergusson College Road to take action on school buses and vehicles with tinted glass. On this stretch there are no schools and hardly any school busses passed from here.

A four-wheeler with tinted windowpanes was penalised

The squad randomly stopped four-wheelers that were found violating the tinted glass norm. A case report (CR) was made and the offenders were told to remove the film and report to the Pune RTO within a week.

"The checks were done to inspect whether school buses had student logos on the front and back side of the vehicle, if there was a fire extinguisher on board, if it had the fitness certificate to operate, and if an attendant was accompanying the school children," said Munshi.

"The policy for four-wheelers is front glass visibility should be 70 per cent, back glass is 45 per cent and for side glasses 100 per cent visibility," added Munshi.

Deputy Regional Transport Officer Anil Valiv said, "There was lack of coordination between the city traffic police department and RTO flying squad inspectors, due to which the drive on day one was not successful.

We will be intensifying the drive from today and ensure that we have better coordination. I have given clear instructions to our squads for improvement of the drive."

Cases registered
> Tinted glasses: 9
> Talking on mobile: 3
> Not wearing seat belt: 2
> School buses checked: 2u00a0