HYDERABAD: Think twice before hiring auto-rickshaws for transporting your children to school. Most city autos are likely to be either unfit to carry school children or driven by autowallahs who do not have proper documents. Another anomaly is that during morning and afternoon hours, auto drivers were seen carrying school children above the permitted limit of five passengers, putting the lives of kids in danger.After the drive against ailing school buses, the Regional Transport Authority officials have decided to focus on autos, which carry children to schools, particularly on drivers carrying more than six children. "After the checks carried out on school buses, we have decided to conduct a drive to check the fitness of autos which carry children to schools. During a recent survey, it was found that most auto-rickshaws, which carry kids to schools are either unfit, driven by those without proper documents or carrying more children than the maximum limit," said D Panduranga Rao, joint transport commissioner.S Raghuram, a parent blamed high costs of private school buses for having to send his children in these autos. He complained that drivers are riding without proper documents like valid driving licence or fitness certificates. "There are separate guidelines for these autos under the Motor Vehicles Act. Section 389 of the Act says school autos must stick a board on the front showing 'School Trip'. Drivers of auto-rickshaws should also have valid driving licence, wear uniform and the auto-rickshaw should carry only six children,'' Panduranga Rao said. He said they have constituted a few special teams which would carry out surprise checks from July 1 on overloaded autos. "If any auto driver is found flouting norms, we will not hesitate to seize the vehicle on the spot,'' he warned.
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