Rules and regulations for School Transport in NCR Delhi Region
One of the most important part of any educational institution or schools is to ensure safety and security of its students. Responsibility of schools starts right from doorstep or bus stop, where student boards the bus and ends only when children reach back home safe. In growing traffic menace, it is an established fact that key tools to achieve safe, secure and comfortable transportation in our cities is to have transport grade, professional School Bus Surveillance and School Bus GPS Tracking systems installed.
From time to time Govt has been taking appropriate actions by announcing guidelines, policies and rules. The Supreme Court and CBSE has also played an important role in creating and managing the rules to ensure student’s safety.
- Supreme court laid down elaborate guidelines in 1997 for school bus operations across the country to minimise risk to the lives of school children. Some these guidelines from Supreme court and CBSE are;The vehicle being used should not be older than 5 years from the first registration equipped with convex cross mirrors and rear-view mirrors for better driving precision, first aid boxes and fire extinguishers for emergencies. It should be painted golden yellow, with an symbol representing school children (a girl and a boy) below which the words “SCHOOL BUS” should be written. The vehicles should carry a STA/RTA certified picture of the assigned driver.
The Principal is responsible for providing the following information by 30thApril every year to the Directorate.
- The number of students
- Seating capacity of the vehicle
- Description of the vehicle
The school authorities have to take care of the following:
- The bus doesn’t overtake any four-wheeler vehicle while carrying students.
- The windows of the bus should be fitted with horizontal grills and with mesh wire.
- The bus doors remain closed while the bus is in motion.
- The bus is stationary while boarding/ de-boarding of students, and the doors remain shut while the bus is moving, moreover It should stop only at the desired bus stops and marked points.
- The parking of the Bus
- Instructing the students about disciplines while boarding the bus
- The institute is allowed to run a vehicle, only if the above criteria are fulfilled. Further some advisory to Parents:
- Parents should make sure that the institute is using the right and legal way of transport.
- They should ensure school bus surveillance cameras are properly installed.
- Parents should stop avoiding, unregistered and unlicensed means of transport.
- In case of any violence or crime committed by the bus staff, they should immediately report it to the school authorities or the Police.
These rules are made for every school in the city, and are strictly to be followed leading to better and safe transport of students over the city.
- In accordance with Central Board Of Secondary Education (CBSE), as referred to in sub-rule (1) of 7-B the educational institution should fulfill the following requirements for a legal student transportation:
The institute and the bus contractors should have a complete list of transported students containing their name, class, pickup and drop locations, and their residential address.
In case of breakdown of the vehicle, A substitute bus should be arranged immediately with a written confirmation from the principle. - Very recently CBSE has mandated School Bus Surveillance and School Bus GPS Tracking System wide notification dated 23/02/2017 making GPS and CCTV compulsorily in each of the school bus. It has been further directed to ensure system in complete working conditions at all times (Real time monitoring)
- Delhi State Govt has also laid down strict guidelines for school bus drivers.
The hired drivers should have at least 5 years’ experience of driving that vehicles. A person should not be hired if challenged more than twice within the calendar year on account of violating the rule 111. The driver should have a valid driving license and should be trained at the DTC depot NagriProgramme. Furthermore, the driver should be clear of drunken driving, rash driving and Over speeding. They should not be allowed to work for more than 8 hours a day, 48 hours a week providing at least a 30 minutes rest per 5 hours. There should be at least one conductor, and both the conductor and the driver should be dressed in grey trouser and shirt. - Delhi Govt has also passed a bill on 20th June 2017 has directed DTC to have minimum 3 CCTV Cameras professionally installed with transport grade equipment in each of the buses, with proper recording and real time monitoring at the central control room.