Following the directives from the Police Headquarters, Jabalpur Traffic Police on Thursday, launched a massive special inspection drive targeting school buses and vans. Under the instructions of Jabalpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Sampat Upadhyay, the safety of school-going children has been put on high alert. During the extensive drive, authorities penalised 40 school van drivers for violating safety norms, recovering a total of Rs 70,000 in fines during the operation executed under the guidance of Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Akhilesh Tiwari, with field teams led by Deputy Superintendents of Police (Traffic) Santosh Shukla and Baijnath Prajapati. Inspections were carried out outside several prominent schools in the city including Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 and No. 2, St Aloysius School and St Joseph’s School. Vehicles transporting school children were thoroughly inspected to ensure compliance with the safety guidelines mandated by the Supreme Court of India and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

 

Vans found operating without essential safety features or in violation of rules were immediately seized and towed to the Civil Lines Police Station. The drivers and school administrations have been strictly instructed to board and deboard children only inside school premises rather than on busy main roads. The operators were warned that compromise on safety standards would lead to harsher penalties, stressing that students’ safety is the absolute top priority to prevent any untoward accidents. The crackdown was carried out by a dedicated team including Inspector Indra Thakur, Reserve Inspector Manish Payasi, Virendra Arak, Subedar Rahul Singh and other traffic police personnel. The Jabalpur Traffic Police released an official advisory urging cooperation from both parents and local transport operators requested the parents not to send their children to school in e-rickshaws or auto-rickshaws, as these vehicles are not legally authorised for school student transport. Furthermore, all public transport operators, including auto and e-rickshaw drivers, must ensure their vehicle documentation is fully updated and must wear their designated uniforms. Non-compliance will invite strict legal action.