School buses and pool cars ferrying children in Kolkata have been asked to install location tracking devices, panic buttons and speed limiting devices on the vehicles, as per a West Bengal government advisory. Published: June 25, 2024 4:41 PM IST By Edited by : The West Bengal government has issued an advisory, asking all school buses and pool cars ferrying children in state capital Kolkata to install location tracking devices, panic buttons and speed limiting devices on the vehicles. The advisories were issued by Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan to reinforce the safety and security of school-going children.
As per the advisory, the maximum allowable speed for school buses and pool cars is 40 kmph. It also directed that the words ‘SCHOOL BUS’ should be written on the front, rear and sides of the bus, and all vehicles must be painted in mustard yellow colour with a navy blue band. “All school buses should be painted in mustard yellow colour with a navy blue band and the name of the school shall be inscribed on the band in white,” the advisory stated.
The advisory further directed that all school buses should have sufficient white-lighting inside the buses and should not be fitted with curtains or glasses having films to ensure activities inside the vehicles are visible from outside. The West Bengal transport department advisory also directed that suitable school bag racks protected with grill should be installed in the buses, and fire extinguisher and first-aid box s.
