Hyderabad: RTA kicks off special drive to check vehicle fitness

Focuses on checking driver licences, adherence to traffic rules, including preventing overloading and underage driving; at least 17 school buses with no valid fitness certificates seized

Hyderabad: With the schools reopening for the academic year from Thursday, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and the Hyderabad Traffic Police have initiated special drives to ensure the safety and compliance of school buses and other vehicles transporting students.

These drives started in the early morning at various places including Secunderabad, Khairatabad, Punjagutta, Vansathalipuram, Bandlaguda, Malakpet, Miyapur and Rajendranagar with a special focus on checking vehicle fitness, driver licences, and adherence to traffic rules, including preventing overloading and underage driving.

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At least 17 school buses which had no valid fitness certificates were seized and cases booked in Hyderabad.

The authorities have formed special teams to conduct inspections daily during peak hours and cases will be booked for violations against school and college buses that fail to meet safety standards. Transport Department officials said cases will be booked for violations against school and college buses for failing to meet safety standards.

Meanwhile, parents were also counselled on the dangers of overloading vehicles and advised to verify the credentials of the drivers and the fitness of the vehicles used to transport their children.

RTA and Traffic Police authorities encouraged citizens to report any traffic violations involving school transport through various channels like the Traffic Police’s Facebook page, Twitter, and dedicated helplines.

Checking was conducted also on the city outskirts at Shamshabad, Shadnagar, Aramgarh, Chevella and districts including Karimnagar, Jangaon, Rangareddy and Warangal. According to the RTA estimates, a total of 5,000 educational institute buses were yet to renew their fitness certificates this academic year.