Panchkula DC orders crackdown on unsafe school buses, traffic violations

Time of India

11 hours ago

Panchkula: In a decisive move to enhance student safety and enforce road discipline, deputy commissioner Monica Gupta of Panchkula has directed the traffic police, State Transport Authority (STA), and other departments concerned to take strict action against school buses violating the Safe School Vahan Policy.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Chairing a meeting of the District
Committee at the mini secretariat on Friday, DC Gupta instructed officials to prepare a detailed report on errant school buses. She ordered immediate challaning of vehicles found without valid registration certificates, pollution control certificates, or those parked in unauthorised areas, such as outside the Sector 8 parking zone.
RTA secretary Haratjeet Kaur was tasked with ensuring the installation of CCTV cameras in all school buses and initiating action against unfit and outdated vehicles.
"Shut them down if necessary," the DC emphasised.
To tighten enforcement, ACP traffic Surendra Singh was directed to issue maximum challans to violators involved in rash driving, overspeeding, red-light jumping, or driving under the influence of alcohol. The traffic inspector has been assigned on-ground visits to penalize illegally parked school vehicles.
Addressing infrastructure concerns, DC Gupta instructed PMDA, NHAI, and PWD (B&R) to expedite pending works.
PMDA was asked to repair non-functional traffic signals in Sectors 20 and 21, trim overhanging trees in MDC, and submit a compliance report within a week. HSVP was directed to fix faulty red lights, while the municipal corporation was asked to install speed tables near the Sector 1 college to facilitate safe pedestrian crossings for students.
Additional deputy commissioner Nisha Yadav presented a progress update from various departments.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The DC also directed the PWD (B&R) executive engineer to install convex mirrors at accident-prone turns and instructed the district education officer to coordinate with the Red Cross to provide safety training to school bus conductors. The SDM was tasked with conducting random inspections of school buses to ensure ongoing compliance.
DC Gupta reiterated the importance of strong inter-departmental coordination and strict enforcement to protect schoolchildren and ensure safer roads for all.
Mohali Police conduct surprise inspections of school buses
In Mohali, the traffic police conducted surprise inspections of school buses across the district on Friday to ensure compliance with safety norms. The drive was led by SP (traffic) Navneet Singh Mahal, who personally oversaw checks for essential safety equipment such as CCTV cameras, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits.
"Our primary goal is to protect schoolchildren by ensuring school buses are fully compliant with traffic and safety regulations," said SP Mahal.
Drivers were instructed not to exceed speed limits and reminded of their responsibilities while transporting students.
DSP (traffic) Karnail Singh interacted with schoolchildren during the drive, advising them to report any reckless driving, such as overspeeding or driving on the wrong side, to their school principals or senior teachers. He stressed that timely reporting could help prevent potential accidents.
The DSP also issued advisories to school bus drivers, emphasizing the importance of wearing uniforms, conducting regular vehicle checks, and ensuring the presence of a conductor or assistant on board. Drivers were urged to undergo proper training for managing and transporting young children responsibly.
"Every school bus must be equipped with a first aid box and fire extinguishing equipment as mandated by safety norms," DSP Singh added.
The police assured that such inspection drives will continue to ensure full compliance and foster a culture of road safety among school transport operators in Mohali.