Ghaziabad: The transport department has issued notices to 215 schools for failing to complete police verification and health check-ups of school bus drivers, raising concerns over the safety of children travelling to and from school.The action was taken under Mission Safe Future 2.0, an ongoing inspection drive covering the fitness and safety standards of school buses. RTO (enforcement) Siyaram Verma schools said that fail to submit the required verification certificates and affidavits may face further action.Last month, TOI had reported that authorities had made police verification mandatory for school bus drivers before being employed. However, of the 2,300 school vehicles registered with the department, only 1,660 have complied with the order.The department has also instructed school vehicle drivers and conductors to follow traffic rules, observe speed limits, wear seat belts and refrain from using mobile phones while driving. School managements have been told to ensure that all vehicles operating under their supervision meet the prescribed safety and fitness norms.Authorities have been trying to make background checks of school staff mandatory for several years. In 2017, the district administration had also directed schools to conduct police verification of drivers and conductors of school buses as part of a wider set of safety guidelines.The current verification drive is part of a broader inspection of school transport. During recent checks, transport officials have been examining vehicles for mandatory safety equipment and documents, including fitness certificates, permits, insurance, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, CCTV cameras, GPS systems and speed governors.Officials said schools must not use vehicles with incomplete or expired documents. Vehicles ferrying students are required to comply with prescribed age, fitness and safety norms, while an attendant is mandatory in every school vehicle.Meanwhile, unregistered school vehicles remain a major concern. More than 5,000 school vehicles are reportedly operating in the city, while only 2,300 are registered with the transport department. Officials said the department will continue inspections and enforcement to bring school transport operators within the regulatory framework and ensure that safety checks are not limited to registered vehicles.The department has asked schools to complete the pending verification process and submit the required documents at the earliest.
