Prayagraj: The transport department has issued notices to owners of 251 school vehicles that failed fitness norms, along with separate notices to the managements of the schools they belong to.RTO Prayagraj Himesh Tiwari said in the event of any accident involving unfit vehicles, both vehicle owners and school authorities would be held accountable. The action, he added, aims to enforce stricter compliance with safety standards and prevent road mishaps involving school transport. According to official data, around 2,400 school vehicles are registered in the district. A recent online verification drive flagged discrepancies in the documents of 439 vehicles. Of these, 251 were declared unfit while 188 had incomplete documentation. The registrations of 188 vehicles with incomplete papers were suspended with immediate effect. Assistant RTO (administration) Rajeev Chaturvedi has directed schools to form a school transport safety committee comprising the naib tehsildar, the SHO of the local police station and representatives from relevant departments. The committee will meet four times a year and ensure thorough inspection and verification of all school transport documents. Chaturvedi added that a special drive will be carried out from April 1 to 15 to inspect safety standards of school vehicles. Any vehicle found violating norms will face suspension of registration, and strict action — including cancellation of school recognition — may also be taken.
