The state government on Friday advised schools to designate a transport manager who will monitor students’ travel to and from school by pool cars and buses and check for the vehicles’ adherence to safety norms.

The government also said the condition of vehicles that ferry students and their compliance with government guidelines should be part of the discussions at parent-teacher meetings.

In an advisory released during the day, the government asked guardians to ensure that only commercial vehicles are used to ferry students and note down the name of the vehicle’s owner, address and contact number.

“A copy of the relevant vehicle/driver-related documents should be shared with the school authority and local police station for necessary action from their end,” the six-page advisory says.

“The transport department has drawn up this advisory in consultation with the education department, police, bus and pool car operators, and sections of parents. The idea is to ensure safe transportation of schoolchildren and make the schools and the parents aware of the norms and regulations,” state transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty said.

“The transport department will initiate action against errant drivers, and bus and pool car operators under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for violations.”

The advisory says that a vehicle with a “soft top” cannot be allowed to be used as a pool car. All pool cars must be fitted with vehicle location tracking devices. And the speedlimit has been fixed at 40kman hour.

Buses and pool cars should have a trained woman attendant “to help children with boarding, de-boarding and crossing the road”.

The transport department will organise programmes to sensitise drivers and attendants if the school authorities make a request, the advisory says.

Pool car operators, who often face criticism for violating norms and putting children at risk, have not taken the advisory well.

Sudip Dutta, the secretary of the Pool Car Owners Welfare Association, said: “It is not viable for us to hire a trained lady attendant. A driver usually charges between ₹14,000 and ₹15,000; an additional ₹5,000 for a lady attendant would make the business untenable.”

The city police had in 2019 launched a crackdown on errant pool car operators. The cops checked whether the vehicles had the essential papers such as the fitness certificate and the permit.

The exercise had to be abandoned on the third day following parents’ protests as the pool car operators refused to pick up kids.

The police said no vehicle was seized and no inconvenience was caused to thechildren. The drivers were asked to stop and show thepapers, which many couldnot produce.

Friday’s advisory says school buses should be painted mustard yellow with a navy blue band. The school’s name has to be inscribed in white.

Pool cars must have “On School Duty” written in the front, at the rear and onthe sides.

The advisory, signed by state transport secretary Saumitra Mohan, says school buses cannot be fitted with curtains or film-coated glasses and there must be sufficient lighting inside.

School buses and pool cars must have seat belts, fire extinguishers and first-aid boxes. The schools should collect periodic feedback from children travelling by school buses and parents who have hired pool cars for their kids.