MVD is strengthening security checks on student transporters in Ernakulam

The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has intensified security checks on school buses and other vehicles carrying students in Ernakulam. In the first week after schools reopened on June 2, around 70 vehicles were booked for various offences.

According to MVD officials, 10 vehicles operated by a school on the outskirts of Kochi were booked for running without the mandatory fitness certificates. The violation came to light during a random check of one of the school’s vehicles, prompting officials to check the entire fleet.

The vehicles were immediately taken out of service until valid certificates of competency were obtained. Officials said the school subsequently made the required adjustments and secured the certificates by Friday (June 5, 2026), allowing the vehicles to resume service.

MVD sources said the school also failed to meet recently revised security norms, including installation of CCTV cameras and mandatory display requirements inside vehicles.

In addition to major violations, about 60 other school vehicles were fined for minor violations found during intensive inspections conducted throughout the district. Five special enforcement units have been deployed in different parts of Kochi city and its suburbs during the morning and evening rush hours to monitor school traffic services. As many as 20 vehicles were found to have a safety defect on the first day of inspections.

“The units detected various offenses and issued e-challans to the operators. We launched a special drive called ‘Apakadarahitha Adhyanavarsham’ (Accident Free Academic Year) as there can be no compromise on the safety of children,” Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer KR Suresh said.

In recent inspections in Kerala, officials reported violations including the absence of fitness certificates, non-functioning emergency exits, lack of first-aid kits and fire extinguishers, overcrowding and failure to install surveillance cameras as per revised safety guidelines.

Officials said inspections would continue in the coming weeks and warned that strict action would be taken against institutions and operators found to be endangering student safety.

Published – 06 Jun 2026 21:52 IST