Jose k Joseph /Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: Parents sending their children to school in auto-rickshaws or Omni vans must think twice.Autos or mini-vans are not supposed to carry children like school buses do as many of them do not possess the mandatory fitness certificate or transport licence.According to Motor Vehicle Act 1988, auto-rickshaws and Omni buses are contract carriers not suitable to carry schoolchildren. However, 5,000 auto-rickshaws and 50 Omni buses are operating like school buses in the city.When contacted, Bhubaneswar regional transport officer (RTO) Lal Mohan Sethy said the department has penalised many drivers but they continue to transport kids illegally.
“Auto-rickshaws and Omni buses are not authorised to transport children to schools. Such vehicles are permitted to operate as contractual carriages. Every month we fine approximately 20 drivers for carrying children illegally. But, they are continuing with the illegal business,” said Sethy.
Although the seating capacity of an auto-rickshaw including the driver is four, the autos in the city carry up to 10 children. Swarnaprava Behera, a Class II girl, died in an accident at Dhenakanal in September.
The auto-rickshaw involved in the mishap was ferrying 10 children at a time. The situation in Bhubaneswar is no better.According to the Act, Omni bus is designed to seat six persons excluding the driver. But, Omni buses that carry schoolchildren in Bhubaneswar display an ‘On School Duty’ board and create an impression that they are legal.Some parents told Orissa Post they depend on auto-rickshaws and Omni buses as they pick and drop children at their doorsteps.“These vehicles pick kids from our gate and drop them back. The bus, on the other hand, drops them on the main road and parents have to wait there,” said Gopabandhu Tripathy, a parent.Many parents, however, are unaware of the safety issues involved in these pick and drop vehicles.
Considering the gravity of the issue the transport department has recently submitted a report to the government to halt use of auto-rickshaws and Omni buses as an alternative to school buses.When contacted, transport commissioner Chandra Sekhar Kumar informed Orissa Post the department has taken the issue seriously and submitted a report to the government. The report also suggested monthly review meetings to assess safety of schoolkids.“This is a serious issue. We have submitted a report to the government. The department also moots improvement in the situation and prevent illegal carriages,” said Kumar.Officials also said school buses are safer and they have to maintain a register of children travelling in the bus and they have to follow other safety precautions.