Pune: In a significant move to enhance the safety of school children, Pune Police have introduced new regulations limiting the number of students allowed in an auto-rickshaw to five. This measure addresses the widespread issue of overcrowding, where many rickshaws have been seen carrying six to seven children, posing serious safety risks.
The new rules were announced following a meeting of the District School Transport Safety Committee held at the Police Commissioner’s office. The primary aim is to promote safer transportation practices and ensure schools are more accountable for the commuting conditions of their students.
Mandatory Safety Measures for School Buses
The new guidelines also require that all school buses be equipped with CCTV surveillance and a female attendant on board. These provisions are designed to facilitate real-time monitoring and to improve the safety of younger students during transit.
The committee also underlined the responsibility of schools in overseeing student transport—whether through school-run buses or privately operated vehicles like rickshaws. Schools have been advised to:
Conduct thorough background checks and medical screenings for all drivers and attendants.
Permit only those vehicles with valid fitness certificates to operate.
Form school-level transport safety committees in collaboration with the education department to carry out regular vehicle inspections.
Tough Measures Against Overcrowding and Illegal Transport
Overloaded rickshaws continue to be a common and dangerous issue in Pune. The new five-student cap is a direct response to this, and authorities have stated that violators will face strict penalties.
In addition, a joint initiative between Pune Police and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) will soon launch a dedicated campaign targeting unauthorized and unsafe student transport vehicles. This drive will focus on identifying and penalizing those not complying with transport safety standards, signaling a stronger enforcement approach in the coming weeks.
