Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is set to introduce new regulations for school buses in the upcoming academic year to address concerns raised by parents over excessive fees and safety issues. The move comes after numerous complaints regarding unregulated charges imposed by school bus operators, as per a release from the office of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
To tackle these issues, the government has formed a single-member committee, headed by former Additional Transport Commissioner Jitendra Patil. The committee has been tasked with submitting a comprehensive report within a month, based on which new norms for school buses will be implemented from the next academic year.
Key Focus Areas of the Committee:
Fee Regulation: Parents have raised concerns about being charged for 12 months, despite school buses operating for only 10 months. Many have also demanded a monthly payment facility instead of an upfront yearly payment.
Student Safety: The committee will review safety measures in school buses and take into account recommendations from the Madan Committee, which previously examined unsafe student transportation in autorickshaws.
Transparent Guidelines: The new regulations aim to create a structured framework to ensure fair pricing and improved safety for students.
