India, April 2 -- The state transport department fined 139 school buses across Mumbai a total of Rs.7 lakh for violating Motor Vehicles rules during a month-long inspection drive in March.

According to the state transport department, the special drive was conducted by the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) of Wadala and Mumbai Central in March to ensure safe transportation of students. "In the past month, a total of 402 school buses were inspected, of which we found that 139 buses had violated Motor Vehicle rules and so fines amounting to Rs.7 lakh were imposed," said a RTO official. In some cases, private vehicles such as Omni vans were illegally transporting school students. Officials said these vans often carry 12 to 15 children at a t...