Maharashtra's New School Bus Guidelines Set to Roll Out

The Maharashtra government plans to introduce new guidelines for school buses by the next academic year, responding to complaints about fees and safety. A committee led by former transport commissioner JB Patil will review the issues and submit a report. Recommendations will form basis of revised bus norms.

The Maharashtra government is set to launch new school bus guidelines before the upcoming academic year. This announcement was made by state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Monday, following numerous complaints from parents about fee regulation and student safety.

A single-member committee, under the leadership of former additional transport commissioner JB Patil, has been appointed to investigate these issues. The committee is expected to deliver its findings within a month, based on recommendations from the previously established Madan Committee, which focused on student safety in autorickshaws.

Parents have raised concerns about school bus operators charging fees for a full year, despite only providing service for ten months. They've also demanded a shift from upfront annual payments to a more flexible monthly payment structure. Sarnaik emphasized that student safety must be a priority in the committee's considerations.

(With inputs from agencies.)