Ghaziabad mandates police checks, health tests for school bus drivers

Ghaziabad schools must ensure that every school-vehicle driver has police verification and has undergone a health examination.

Assistant Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement) Amit Rajan Rai issued the direction at a meeting of the special district school vehicle transport safety committee. He told schools to allow only verified, medically fit drivers to operate vehicles carrying students.

Vehicles carrying young children must also have an attendant, Rai said. The attendant will help children board and get off and monitor them during the journey. Children will not be allowed to travel in these vehicles without an attendant.

Last month, transport authorities issued notices to 60 school buses that did not have required provisions, including safety certificates and CCTV cameras. Officials also checked vehicle fitness certificates, permits, insurance, pollution documents, and the police verification of drivers and conductors.

Under the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, 2019, every school must form a transport safety committee to periodically review the condition and safety arrangements of its vehicles.