Transport Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan convened a meeting with school representatives to review the safety standards of vehicles used for transporting students. The meeting focused on ensuring active participation from schools to maintain the safety and compliance of student transportation systems. In line with Supreme Court directives, the Transport Commissioner set January 31, 2024, as the deadline for mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in all school buses. These cameras will help monitor the activities of drivers and assisting staff during operations, providing round-the-clock safety for students.
Schools were also instructed to ensure all buses are equipped with functional speed governors, restricting speeds to a maximum of 40 km/h as per prescribed guidelines. It was emphasised that vehicles violating safety norms, including overloading and overspeeding, would be seized on the spot. School representatives assured their commitment to following the Supreme Court’s safety measures and were directed to prevent underage students from driving two-wheelers or four-wheelers in and around school premises. Additionally, they were asked to conduct counseling sessions for parents to raise awareness about the legal and safety implications of underage driving.
The Transport Commissioner highlighted that while many schools operate their own fleet of vehicles, some parents engage private transport for their children. Schools were reminded of their responsibility to ensure that all vehicles, including private ones, comply with mandatory safety requirements such as emergency exit doors, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, GPS trackers, CCTV cameras, seat belts, and fire detection and alarm systems. The meeting was attended by Joint Transport Commissioner Vinay Samotra, Assistant Transport Commissioner, ARTO (HQ) Jammu, and representatives from various schools, with the Transport Department reiterating its commitment to student safety and compliance with regulations.