The annual picnic of around 200 students of Government Higher Secondary School, Elamakkara, to Ooty in four tourist buses was cancelled on Thursday morning after Motor Vehicles department (MVD) personnel found that the buses had not obtained the mandatory inspection certificates from the office of the Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer (RTO).
Sources in the department said operators of the buses, each of which had 49 seats, had not obtained inspection certificates although the school authorities had informed the RTO of Thursday’s tour. Moreover, it was found that the buses did not conform to fitness norms prescribed by the MVD to operate as contract carriages.
“Once the application is made, we insist on such buses being produced at the RTO office for inspection since many operators add laser lights and high-decibel music systems that are prohibited apart from other illegal alterations after being produced for the annual fitness inspection, to woo picnic-goers. On preliminary inspection after the buses were seized and brought to the office at Kakkanad, we found many technical and other problems with the buses. Notices will be served on the operators and fitness certificates cancelled, if need arose,” they added.
