From rxpgnews.com
Delhi government clears school cab policy
By IANS,
Apr 30, 2007 - 11:22:05 PM
New Delhi, April 30 - The Delhi government Monday approved a school cab policy for better student safety in the national capital, where over 100,000 students commute in such cabs.
According to the policy, the cabs should have a fire extinguisher and not exceed a speed limit of 40 km per hour, among other safety norms.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, after a cabinet meeting Monday evening, said that henceforth only registered school cabs would be entitled to transport the over 100,000 students.
'Safety of schoolchildren is a prime concern of the city government,' she said, adding that vehicles more than 15 years old would not be eligible for registration.
Dikshit said the registered cabs would not be eligible for inter-state or all India tourist permits.
Education Minister A.S. Lovely said all these vehicles would have to install speed governors and comply with other safety norms prescribed in the policy.
The school cabs will have a readily identifiable horizontal strip in the middle and would be registered under a new series - DL 1K. They would be able to operate as ordinary transport vehicles when not transporting schoolchildren, Lovely said.
'The carrying capacity of the school cab will be limited to one and half times of the seating capacity stated in the registration certificate. The vehicle must have a display board mentioning 'school cab' inscribed with bold black letters on golden yellow background,' he added.
It should have a carrier on the roof for storage of school bags and must carry a register of schoolchildren with full details including telephone numbers. Drivers under this scheme would have to undergo driving training including refresher driving courses. They would also have to wear uniform.
The school cab should ensure that it does not exceed the speed limit of 40 kmph and must have a first-aid box, a fire extinguisher, amber flashing lights affixed to the top four corners on the exterior of the cab which shall be activated when the cab is stopped. It should also display the transport Helpline number inside and outside.
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