Pune: The alleged sexual assault of two six-year-old schoolgirls by a private van driver in the city on Sept 30 has reignited concerns over student safety in private transport vehicles. Police arrested the van driver, while deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, said strictest action would be taken against the perpetrator of the alleged crime. However, the incident underscored the persistent gaps in enforcing safety measures for school transportation.
Since 2019, regulations have prohibited registration of new school vans and limited autorickshaws to carrying no more than four students. But unlike school buses, these vehicles often lack a mandatory woman attendant—a key safety requirement established by Maharashtra's 2011 school bus policy. School authorities cite financial constraints and parental preferences as obstacles to providing school buses.
Many parents opt for private vehicles, citing concerns over high fees, longer travel times, and overcrowding in school buses. This preference, in turn, makes school bus services financially unviable for many institutions. Regional Transport Office (RTO), Pune, stated that their squads have been activated in the wake of the recent incident and a "major drive" initiated against transportation of schoolchildren in unauthorised vehicles.
"Drivers of school buses get their character certificates verified by police once they receive RTO badges. These badges certify them as school bus drivers. We have told our .