Jammu Kashmir Has 6,271 School Bus Fleet, 472 Found Defective During Audit | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: As many as 6,271 school buses are currently registered across Jammu and Kashmir, with recent audits revealing that 472 vehicles were found defective, the government informed the Assembly during budget discussions.

According to data placed before the House, a total of 4,545 school buses were audited and inspected as part of a safety and compliance review. Of these, 472 buses were found to have various defects. Following issuance of prescribed proformas and notices, defects in 450 buses were subsequently rectified.

The disclosures come amid heightened scrutiny over school transport safety standards, including vehicle fitness, driver training and operational compliance with prescribed norms.

In addition to vehicle inspections, the government also shared details regarding Driving Training Schools (DTS) operating in the Union Territory. Out of 141 registered Driving Training Schools, 39 were found functional, while 102 were non-operational as per norms. A total of 81 DTS units were audited or inspected during the exercise, and notices were served to 21 Driving Training Schools and educational institutions for non-compliance.

The government indicated that enforcement drives and inspections are being carried out to ensure that school buses adhere to mandated safety standards, including fitness certification and regulatory compliance. The audit findings, particularly the number of defective buses detected and rectified, were presented as part of ongoing measures to strengthen student transport safety across Jammu and Kashmir.