Thane, April 11 The Maharashtra government is set to introduce stricter regulations for school transport to enhance student safety, transparency, and accountability, state minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Saturday.
In a statement, he said the state government has issued a draft notification for 'Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (School Bus Regulation) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026', seeking objections and suggestions from the public within 15 days.
"The Maharashtra government is committed to making school transport safer, more transparent, and more accountable," said the transport minister.
Under the proposed rules, school bus fares will be regulated by the Regional Transport Authority, and operators will be allowed to charge only monthly fees, prohibiting lump sum advance payments, the statement said.
"Each school will be required to form a transport committee to address complaints related to safety, fares, and services, with mandatory quarterly reporting. GPS-based Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD), panic buttons, CCTV cameras, fire detection and alarm systems, and seat belts must be mandatorily installed in all vehicles," it said.
A digital monitoring system will enable live tracking, attendance recording, automated alerts, and real-time updates to parents, integrated with a state-level platform, while special provisions include the deployment of a female staff member for pre-primary and primary students.
"Facilities for children with special needs, including trained staff and accessible arrangements, have also been proposed. Strict background verification of drivers and staff will be compulsory," it added.
All vehicles engaged in school transport must comply within three months, failing which licenses may be suspended or cancelled, the statement said.