Pune 12th June 2025: In a significant move to enhance the safety of school-going children, the Pune Police have issued new guidelines limiting auto-rickshaws to ferrying no more than five students. This decision comes in response to the alarming trend of overcrowded and unsafe student transport, where many rickshaws were routinely seen carrying six to seven children.
The fresh directives were announced following a meeting of the District School Transport Safety Committee at the Police Commissioner’s office. The police emphasized that these measures aim to crack down on unsafe practices and reinforce accountability among schools.
As part of the new safety drive, schools are now required to install CCTV cameras in all buses and ensure the presence of a female attendant, particularly for the safety of younger students
Further, schools have been directed to:
Conduct character verification and medical checks for all transport staff.
Allow only vehicles with valid fitness certificates to carry students.
Form school-level transport committees in collaboration with the Education Department to carry out regular inspections.
Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar underscored that the safety of student transport is a critical responsibility of every school, whether the vehicles are school-owned or privately hired. He warned that strict action would be taken against auto drivers who exceed the five-student cap.
In addition, the Pune Police and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) will soon launch a special enforcement drive targeting unauthorized and unsafe school vehicles. Non-compliant vehicle owners and drivers will face stiff penalties as part of this crackdown.
The meeting was attended by top officials including Joint Commissioner Ranjankumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Sandeep Bhajibhakare, Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad, and education officers from PMC, PCMC, and Zilla Parishads.
Commissioner Kumar also ordered:
Mandatory CCTV installation in all student transport vehicles.
Deployment of female staff for children under six.
Police verification of drivers, conductors, and cleaners.
Medical and eye check-ups for all transport personnel.
