Drivers VANquish RTO, call off strike

School van drivers withdraw strike after RTO 'blinks', gives 45-60 days to comply with vehicle fitness and documentation; will RTO use magic VAND, check 8,000 vans in 60 days?

The 'indefinite' strike by the School Van Drivers Association was withdrawn on Wednesday after Regional Transport Office (RTO) agreed to extend the deadline to comply with safety and vehicle documentation norms by 45-60 days, as demanded. Till that happens the safety of school children will continue to remain Ram Bharose.

The compromise worked out will only kick the can down the road as about 8,000 school vans will need to be checked by RTO in a span of 60 days in Ahmedabad alone, with Sundays and public holidays thrown in.

That comes to checking between 130 and 177 vans per day, a tall order indeed. It remains to be seen whether the RTO officials are able to push the efficiency card.