School bus safety measures are yet to kick in despite official orders

Most of the government, aided and unaided schools have not yet followed the guidelines issued despite the new academic year starting two weeks ago. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

More than a year after authorities directed educational institutions to strengthen security mechanisms in school buses by installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and GPS-enabled tracking systems, implementation remains patchy across the district, raising concerns among parents and road safety officials.

Although schools reopened for the new academic year two weeks ago, most government, aided and unaided institutions are yet to follow the guidelines issued jointly by the motor vehicle department, the police and the education ministry. The order, sent out at the beginning of the previous academic year, assumed that the process would be completed within a set time frame. However, progress on the ground has been limited.

Parents say several schools have shown little interest in implementing the measures despite repeated discussions about pupil safety. According to them, many institutions have neither started tendering nor held detailed discussions on the installation of tracking and tracing systems.

The delay drew criticism, especially as some school authorities had earlier revised transport charges, citing plans to improve security infrastructure, including CCTV cameras, RFID-based student facilitation systems and real-time GPS-enabled vehicle tracking. Parents complained of negligence on the part of the school management despite repeated instructions from the education department.

Meanwhile, school authorities point to a number of problems. According to them, the installation of the systems is hindered by financial constraints and logistical difficulties. Some managements also say they would have to temporarily take buses off the road for the installation process, potentially disrupting timetables. Others highlight the additional expense associated with maintaining digital monitoring systems.

However, MVD officials say the measures are necessary to ensure the safety and accountability of school transportation services. According to them, CCTV cameras installed inside buses can serve as vital visual evidence in case of accidents, security incidents or complaints against bus crew members.

The GPS-based tracking system was designed to allow parents to monitor the movement of school buses in real time. It would provide updates on arrival and departure schedules while increasing transparency and improving emergency response during contingencies.

The push for stricter monitoring has gained momentum following complaints in previous years about inappropriate behavior by bus staff. The measures could also address concerns about student safety during transportation. Transport authorities insist that digital surveillance can act as a deterrent as well as a source of evidence to verify complaints.

MVD officials say the GPS platform can also store route history and operational data for longer periods of time, allowing schools and regulators to review service quality and verify travel records when needed. Although the app was reportedly developed to facilitate vehicle monitoring, its widespread deployment faced obstacles, including the cost of maintaining a dedicated server infrastructure.

At present, only a limited number of institutions, mostly among international and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools, have adopted comprehensive monitoring and live monitoring systems. In contrast, compliance remains low for many other schools despite the official mandate.

The ongoing delay is becoming more apparent at a time when a growing number of private operators and commercial transport providers have voluntarily adopted on-board surveillance systems to document incidents such as theft, road collisions and passenger misconduct.

With another academic year ahead, parents and safety advocates are urging authorities to step up enforcement and ensure schools implement the prescribed safeguards without further delay, arguing that student safety cannot be left to administrative convenience or financial considerations. They demand legal action against those who deliberately delay the implementation of measures.

Published – 14 Jun 2026 22:33 IST