KOLLAM: Angry residents blocked overcrowded school buses at Kavanad here on Tuesday. Following this, the motor vehicles department took action against 15 carriages that belonged to Lake Ford School for violating Motor Vehicles Act. People alleged the buses packed with children were speeding on narrow roads despite parents protesting. The mini buses with ten and 15 seats were accommodating up to 60 pupils giving scant regard to their sentiments.
The parents and the public had complained about it earlier. Apart from students, teachers also take the same vehicles. The students ranged from LKG to Class X. “The issue was brought to our notice while our vehicle squad was checking illegal taxis carrying children to school," regional transport officer R. Thulaseedharan Pillai told DC. "These vehicles had only a seating capacity of 19, while some of them even had 40 students. Notices have been served on them and penalised.” A team of officials from the Regional Transport Office rushed to the spot after being alerted by the public. The RTO permitted the vehicles to go after seizing licenses of drivers.
