Continuing their state-wide raids on private buses, the Road Transport Authority officials seized 39 private tourist buses on Wednesday. As many as 55 others were booked After penalising private bus operators, who were found violating rules, for the last three days, the RTA has now shifted its focus to school buses, seizing 100 school buses from all major cities in the state.
A total of 10 school buses were seized from Hyderabad alone for not having valid fitness certificates or other important documents, said officials. “Our teams conducted raids and 100 school buses were hauled up for various violations related to possession of important documents. Schools have now reopened, but many school bus operators still haven’t renewed their fitness and other certificates. The raids will continue till all the school buses comply with the guidelines,” said joint transport commissioner B. Venkateshwarlu.
The spate of raids on private bus carriers began after the June 16 bus tragedy, in which 30 passengers lost their lives and 16 others were injured. The simultaneous raids on private bus operators will be conducted along with those on school buses. The buses had a deadline to renew their certificates by the beginning of June. Private travel agencies were found to be illegally operating buses as stage carriers and the buses were also discovered to have more seating ar