KOCHI: The Motor Vehicle Department has cancelled the fitness of four buses that went on an excursion with students because they did not have the necessary documents and facilities. Illegally installed systems were also found in the buses. The students' journey was also disrupted after the bus was taken into custody.
The tourist buses booked by the Elamakara Govt. Higher Secondary School were taken into custody on the instructions of the RTO. Irregularities were discovered when buses were impounded due to the non-conduct of pre-trip inspections.
The buses that left the school for Ooty yesterday at around 5.45 am were intercepted at the Punnakkal Junction near the school. The school principal had applied to the RTO office to inspect the bus before the journey. The bus was not delivered the day before the inspection. Then the officials checked.
All four buses are owned by residents of Chalakkudy and Perumbavoor. The buses did not have a vehicle location tracking device, speed control device, pollution control certificate, emergency door opening facility and driver's seat belt. Assistant motor vehicle inspector NS Binu who led the inspection, said that wires, curtains and sticker works for attaching speakers and lasers were found. A case was filed against the drivers.