{
  "id": 15763111,
  "title": "Parents-Hired School Buses Under Scanner Over Safety Violations, Citizens Demand Special RTO Inspection Drive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/parents-hired-school-buses-under-scanner-over-safety-violations",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T14:56:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/parents-hired-school-buses-under-scanner-over-safety-violations-citizens-demand-special-rto-inspection-drive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai residents have expressed concerns about the safety of children traveling in privately hired school buses. Advocate Sachin Adkar and members of the citizens' group Aamhi Girgaonkar approached the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to demand a thorough investigation into these vehicles. Adkar reported witnessing students seated on the engine cover and near the gearbox, as well as a student leaning against a glass window, highlighting potential injury risks. A complaint was lodged with the school, Matunga RTO, and the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to initiate a broader probe. The school maintained it was not responsible, as parents hired the buses privately. However, Aamhi Girgaonkar has documented other alleged violations, including a driver using a phone while driving. Maharashtra recently implemented a school bus policy in July, mandating digital monitoring, CCTV cameras, seat belts, panic buttons, and attendance systems. Despite these regulations, Adkar claims consistent non-compliance among private operators. He called for a special safety inspection drive to verify adherence to the new standards and hold violators accountable.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: Raising concerns over the safety of schoolchildren travelling in privately hired buses, advocate Sachin Adkar and members of Aamhi Girgaonkar approached the Regional Transport Office (RTO), seeking a comprehensive investigation into vehicles engaged directly by parents to ferry students to and from school. Concerns Raised Over School Bus Safety Adkar said an incident he witnessed raised…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}