Jampacked with students, autorickshaws continue to pose a danger to young students and RTO officials seem to be ignoring it though the officials themselves say it is illegal to use autorickshaws for transporting school students. Travelling like slaves in auto rickshaws does not end in school. There is also the fight to sit in the front seat next to the auto-rickshaw driver and now a newer trend is standing on the back side. The packed rickshaws inconvenience students and put their lives at risk. While it is the responsibility of RTO officials to see that school transportation norms are followed,
Though the Motor Vehicles Act stipulates that no more than three adults should travel in an autorickshaw, the authorities can permit up to six children.
However, most autorickshaws/vans brazenly violate the rules and pack children in their vehicles as if no ceiling exists on the number of passengers. It is common to see autos packed with 10 and sometimes 12 children precariously hanging onto whatever little space is available in the vehicle, which is already stuffed with their school bags and tiffins.
On the other side, if the numbers are reduced, parents will have to shell out more money, the parents speculate.
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