Half of school buses lack fitness in erstwhile Karimnagar

The Commissioner reiterated that vehicles older than 15 years were not permitted on roads.

Karimnagar: With schools set to reopen in a few days, nearly 50 percent of school buses in the erstwhile Karimnagar district have yet to undergo mandatory fitness tests, raising concerns about student safety.

Despite fitness checks being compulsory for school buses to ensure safety, many private school managements are allegedly ignoring this requirement. Of the total 2,083 school buses in the erstwhile Karimnagar district, only 1,033 have completed fitness tests so far, while 686 are yet to be tested. Additionally, 364 buses have completed 15 years of service.

---

Officials said some schools follow norms only during the inspection phase but neglect student safety once the process is over. Instead of prioritising safety, school managements appear more focused on collecting fees from parents, they added.

Fearing possible seizure of unfit vehicles by Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials, some school managements are reportedly reluctant to present buses for testing. There are also allegations that some officials are issuing fitness certificates in exchange for bribes, even for vehicles that do not meet standards.

As per RTA statistics, the distribution of school buses in the erstwhile Karimnagar districts is as follows: Karimnagar (1,123), Jagtial (519), Peddapalli (274), and Rajanna-Sircilla (167). Of these, 1,033 vehicles, 508 in Karimnagar, 303 in Jagtial, 130 in Peddapalli and 92 in Rajanna-Sircilla have cleared fitness tests. However, 686 buses — Karimnagar (320), Jagtial (171), Peddapalli (125) and Rajanna-Sircilla (70) — are yet to be tested.

District Transport Commissioner P Purushotham said all school buses must clear fitness checks before resuming operations. “Unfit vehicles will not be allowed to ply on roads. A special drive will be launched after schools reopen. If any bus is found without a valid fitness certificate, it will be seized, and legal action will be initiated against the school management,” he warned.

He also urged parents to examine the condition of the buses their children commute in. “If they notice any issues, they should alert school authorities and RTA officials. Complaints can also be filed online,” he added.

The Commissioner reiterated that vehicles older than 15 years were not permitted on roads.