Plaint with Upa Lokayukta over rule violation by pvt school vans

A complaint has been filed with the Upa Lokayukta on private school vans violating rules, especially in and around the Central Business District.

The complaint filed by Ambedkar Yuva Sene stated that more than 3,000 private school vans ply on St Marks Road and Residency Road and majority of them carry children in violation of rules and High Court directions. The Upalokayukta has issued notices to the Transport Commissioner and Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to submit replies by March 3.

The complainant claimed to have conducted a survey about private school vans plying on St. Marks Road and Residency Road, falling under Cubbon Park, Ashok Nagar traffic police limits and also under RTO Central division.

“There are about 15 schools in these two police station limits and a minimum of 40 private school vans attached to each school. There are around 3,000 school vans operating on these roads. Because of corruption, no action is taken against such vans. Illegal alteration of private school vans allow them carry three times more students than the stipulated capacity. All this is done in active connivance with the officials,” the complaint stated.

The High Court recently had directed that each school van should be coloured yellow with details about the driver and the owner on it. Vehicles older than 15 years should not be allowed to ferry children and that the manufacturer’s seating capacity should not be changed, the court had said.

“The complaint claims that in order to make quick money, private schools have indulged in altering the vehicles for increasing the seating capacity, contrary to the Motor Vehicles Act and rules. They carry children much more than the capacity of load specified. The complainant alleges that he had sent an e-mail to the Transport Commissioner and also filed applications under RTI, but there has been no response,” Justice Adi said.

Transport Department sources said that till December 2014, Bengaluru Central office has checked 2,383 school vans and buses. Transport Department officials have booked 63 cases for violation of rules and have seized 12 vehicles. The traffic police said that the RTO offices have been conducting a drive to check school vehicles.