Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): After recent orders of Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore bench banning school buses older than 12 years, both parents and school operators are struggling with uncertainty and a lack of immediate alternatives.
The decision is aimed at ensuring students’ safety. Many private schools in Bhopal have about 10 buses that are older than 12 years. Then, there are many private schools that do not own school buses but depend on private bus operators.
Private bus operator Nitin Rai told Free Press that they could not replace buses in such a short duration but went for routine mechanical check-up of all the school buses regularly. Parents who have already paid bus fees in advance argue it was now school’s responsibility to ensure smooth transportation arrangements.
On the other hand, school operators have expressed inability to replace the banned buses in such a short duration. There are many financial and logistical challenges in acquiring new vehicles or leasing replacements require time and resources.
The situation has left both parties distressed, with no clear resolution in sight. Parents fear disruptions in daily routines, while schools risk losing trust and face operational hurdles. Stakeholders are now calling for an extension of the deadline or government intervention to mitigate the impact of the ban.
‘School’s responsibility’
Parent Satyam Sharma whose daughter studies in Class 1 said he paid Rs 800 per month to her school as bus fee every quarter in advance. Now, school is responsible for addressing the issue without disrupting her daughter’s transportation.
