3400 school buses across Kerala fail fitness test

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the inspection of school vehicles conducted by the Motor Vehicle Department before the start of the academic year in the state, it was found that 3,400 buses did not have the prescribed fitness. Officials have directed the school authorities to make these vehicles undergo fitness test again.

Buses found with defects such as worn tyres, non-functioning signal lights and doors that do not close properly were advised to rectify the defects before bringing them back for fitness test.

Most of the vehicles that fail the fitness test are government school vehicles. The school authorities say that the reason is insufficient funds. MVD has also found that some schools did not bring the buses for fitness check. Officials informed that buses which have not proved their fitness and have not undergone inspection will not be allowed to ply with children.

Reluctance to use Vidyavahan

The 'Vidya Vahan' app introduced by the Motor Vehicles Department to know the information of the school vehicle in which the children are traveling has not been installed in all the school buses. It is the responsibility of the school authorities to register the parents' mobile number in the app. A parent can also register a mobile number with more than one vehicle. But many school authorities are reluctant to do so.

The Motor Vehicle Department has introduced the 'Vidya Vahan' app to end the worries of parents and keep them informed after sending their children to school. This app is to know the details of the school vehicle in which his child is traveling using the GPS system. The Motor Vehicle Department said that Vidyavahan has been made mandatory and action will be taken if it is not used.

Contract vehicles transporting students to schools have not been tested for fitness. The MVD has directed the school authorities to use Vidyavahan service in these vehicles as well. The police of the respective station will check the schools in the boundaries of the police station and put a sticker of the police saying 'School Duty' on the vehicles.