Uttar Pradesh: Transport Department to launch campaign against ‘unfit school vehicles’ from July 8

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 5 (ANI): In a proactive move aimed at ensuring the safety of schoolchildren, the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department, following directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will launch a comprehensive inspection campaign.

Beginning July 8, the initiative will focus on verifying the fitness, permits, insurance, pollution compliance, and other essential credentials of vehicles employed for transporting students to and from schools.

Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge) Daya Shankar Singh said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Transport Department to prepare a district-wise list of vehicles operating in schools. Transport department officials should ensure verification of registered school vehicles.

He instructed that separate lists of ‘fit’ and ‘unfit’ vehicles be prepared and that meetings be held with school management and vehicle owners to ensure compliance with the standards.

The Transport Minister informed that it has come to their notice that in most districts of the state, vehicles are operating in violation of standards without fitness certificates or without being registered/contracted under the school’s name. Children are being sent to school in Maruti vans, Tata Magics, autos, and e-rickshaws with the consent of schools and parents, which is a violation of the Motor Vehicle Rules. Enforcement teams will launch a campaign to take action against such individuals.

The State Transport Commissioner, Chandra Bhushan Singh, stated that the directives given by the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister will be ensured with 100 per cent compliance.

He also mentioned that all enforcement officers have been instructed to launch the campaign starting on July 8. For approximately a fortnight, there will be a campaign to check the fitness, permits, and other documents of school vehicles, and action will be taken against those operating in violation of the rules.