Telangana: Schools start classes, but keep buses off roads

HYDERABAD: While schools were ordered to reopen on September 1, most school buses haven’t taken to the roads yet. School managements, especially the private budget ones, want the state to waive off road tax until December 31 as well as extend validly of fitness. State is yet to take a decision.
The managements claim they would have to shell out Rs 40,000-50,000 on each bus for pending dues and repairs.
“Not even one per cent of schools have started school buses in the city. Across the state, about 5% may be providing transportation,” said S Srinivas Reddy, honorary president of Telangana Recognised School Managements Association (TRSMA).
Reddy, who also owns a private budget school in city, said most schools were not running buses for fear of vehicles being seized for want of documents.
TRSMA members had met finance minister T Harish Rao in first week of September and sought road tax waiver as well as extension of document validity till end of this year citing financial constraints. The state has already waived off road tax for all transport vehicles for two quarters from April to September 2020.
“Many are finding it difficult to pay school fees. I don’t think they will be interested to pay transport fees in the current situation,” said TRSMA president Shekhar Rao.
Some parents, however, said that it would be better if schools started buses as it would be much safer than public transport. “My son is in class 10 and we stay in Chandanagar. His school is in Kukatpally. I want my son’s school to start transport as early as possible so that he can travel safely,” said Maheshwari V, a parent.
A few schools, especially those who discontinued online teaching and made physical classes mandatory, are plying buses.
“Buses will ply on all routes and lunch/snacks will be provided in the school as always,” read a message from an international school.