Greater Noida: Responding to alarming gaps in school transport safety, the Gautam Buddha Nagar district administration has announced strict new rules for all school vehicles. After a recent inspection found many school buses breaking important safety and legal rules, the government has decided to take tough action. From now on, school principals and transport managers will be held responsible for any safety violations.
The crackdown follows a statewide inspection drive that started on July 1. During this drive, officials found that many school buses were running without valid permits or safety certificates. Some vehicles did not have insurance, pollution clearance (PUC), or even fitness certificates. Many buses were missing basic safety tools like GPS devices, CCTV cameras, seat belts, fire extinguishers, and emergency exits.
The major concern was that some drivers had not completed police verification or medical fitness checks. According to the officials, this is a serious risk to the lives of students. Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Udit Narayan Pandey said that student safety is not optional and cannot be ignored. Schools must treat each bus as an extension of their campus and ensure every vehicle is fully safe and legal.
Under the new rules, every school vehicle must have valid documents, proper fitness checks, and be fully insured. Buses must also have GPS tracking systems, CCTV cameras for monitoring, seat belts for every student, and emergency equipment like first-aid kits and fire extinguishers.
For the safety of girl students, every bus must now also have a female attendant. Schools must make sure all drivers and conductors go through proper background checks, medical tests, and training.
Every school is also required to form a School Transport Safety Committee. This committee must hold monthly meetings to check whether the safety rules are being followed. Schools must submit regular transport reports and updates to the ARTO office. If a school fails to follow the rules, it may face criminal charges, administrative penalties, or even lose its recognition in extreme cases.
There are nearly 1,900 registered school buses in the district, but the rules will also apply to other vehicles used for student transport. This includes vans, mini-buses, and even private cabs hired by schools under transport agreements.
Officials said these steps are not just for show. They are being taken to make sure that no school can ignore student safety. Instructions have been given to ensure that all schools in the district comply with transport and safety rules. Schools that break the rules will not be allowed to operate their vehicles.
This new order has put the spotlight on how seriously schools must now take their transport duties. It's not just about getting students from one place to another. It’s about keeping them safe every step of the way.
Parents are also being encouraged to stay aware and ask their schools about the safety of their children’s daily rides. If a school bus doesn't have working seat belts or a female attendant, parents have every right to question it.
The message from the government is clear. There will be zero tolerance for carelessness. Student safety is not something to take lightly. The lives of thousands of children are at stake, and no shortcuts will be accepted anymore.
With these tighter rules, officials hope that school transportation in Gautam Budh Nagar will become safer and more reliable. It’s a step in the right direction to build trust among parents and ensure that going to school remains a safe journey for every child.
