Jamshedpur: The East Singhbhum district administration’s drive against overloaded school vans began today at Loyola School.
The teams were led by East Singhbhum district transport officer George Kumar, East Singhbhum deputy superintendent of police (traffic), Rakesh Mohan Sinha and district Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Awdesh Kumar.
In all nine vehicles were seized during the drive and the violating vehicles have been kept at the Bistupur police stations and would be released after scrutiny of the papers and levying of fines.
The police are acting against the van operators after receiving regular complains of city school vans being packed with students � their bags tied on the roof of the vehicles. School van operators, too, seem little bothered about the safety of their students.
Most of the private operators do not employ attenders, who can make sure the child gets off and reaches home safe. Due to this cases of accidents and rash driving are reported.
Sinha informed that along with the traffic police the department has conducted surprised raids and seized several vans. Penalty is being slapped against those found with overloaded vehicles, besides the vehicles may be seized by enforcement police officers.
Meanwhile the van operators are also not happy with the drive launched by the traffic police. Concerned with surprise checks, some van operators have even started carrying few children these days and are asking the parents to drop their children from their own vehicles for the time being.
�We have no choice but to drop children ourselves for the time being. I think the van operators should be taken to task for their behaviour. School management should also come forth to help improve the situation.
They should also complain about overloaded school vans so that the police can act,� said Brajesh Singh, a parent. He said that the private vans also run several trips.
The result: a big hurry on part of the drivers to go for their next pick up or drop.
