The way student transport is monitored is about to change: Maharashtra has revised its school bus rules, and schools now have a few more things to check before their vehicles can continue operating.

On July 16, 2026, Maharashtra notified the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) First Amendment Rules, 2026. The new rules introduce stricter requirements for school bus safety, digital monitoring and transport fares. Schools and operators have a three-month of time to bring their vehicles and processes in line with the new requirements.

What Exactly Has Changed?

The biggest change is the introduction of a Digital Safety Monitoring System for school transport. The new framework brings several safety and monitoring features together. The aim is to give schools, parents and authorities better visibility into what happens during a student's journey.

What is the Digital Safety Monitoring System?

The system includes several key safety and monitoring features:

1. GPS-Based Live Tracking

Live GPS tracking allows the location of a school bus to be monitored during its journey. Parents and school staff can use this tracking information to see the vehicle’s location in real time, making it easier to know whether the bus is on its expected route.

For schools checking whether GPS tracking is mandatory for school buses, this is an important point to include in their compliance audit.

2. CCTV Inside the Bus

CCTV surveillance is required in school transport vehicles under the new school bus CCTV rules in Maharashtra.

CCTV footage must be kept for at least 30 days and made available to Transport, Education or Police authorities upon request.

Therefore, schools should also check that the camera records properly, has enough storage, and that old footage can actually be retrieved.

3. Digital Attendance System

Student boarding and drop-off records will move towards digital attendance. Schools can now maintain digital records of when students enter and leave the vehicle instead of depending on manual records. This creates a clearer record of each journey and improves accountability.

4. Automated Alerts to Parents/School

Parents and schools can receive automated alerts, which reduces dependency on manual calls and provides timely updates on a student's school transport journey.

5. Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with Panic Button

The VLTD tracks the vehicle’s location, while the panic button allows the driver or passengers a way to call for immediate help in an emergency.

Together, GPS tracking, CCTV, digital attendance, automated alerts and the VLTD panic button form the Digital Safety Monitoring System.

School Bus Fares Will Now Be Regulated

Safety is not the only area changing under the Maharashtra new school bus rules 2026.

For the first time, school transport fares will come under a formal regulatory framework. Regional Transport Authorities will set a base fare per kilometre per student. Operators can't charge more than 10% above or below that rate. Parents get a clearer picture of what they're actually paying for, and schools and operators finally have a benchmark to price against.

Who is Going to Enforce the New Rules?

The responsibility does not end with the installation of the necessary technology. The School Transport Committees will have an expanded role in checking compliance, addressing complaints concerning school transport, and sending quarterly reports to the District School Bus Safety Committee.

Officials from the Transport and Education Departments will also carry out joint inspections. Schools will therefore have to show that the necessary systems are not only in place but also working and that the appropriate records are kept.

What Should Schools Do Now Regarding the Three-month Compliance Deadline?

The three-month compliance period starting on July 16, 2026 has already begun. Schools need not start over; the first step should be to find out what is already in place and identify the gaps.

A practical compliance audit can include:

• Give a list of all the vehicles that are currently used for transporting students.
• Look at the GPS, CCTV, and VLTD systems already in place.
• Make sure that the panic buttons are in place and working properly.
• Test digital attendance and automatic alerts.
• Make sure that CCTV footage is stored for at least 30 days.
• Compare the transport fares with the relevant RTA rate.
• Give the School Transport Committee a summary of its revised duties.
• Arrange the inspection and compliance records.

How SchoolBus2.0 Can Help

It is very likely that many schools already have such systems installed. The main difficulty, however, lies in combining them so that safety monitoring doesn't stay dispersed among various devices and processes.

SchoolBus2.0 has been designed as a single, connected school transport system incorporating GPS tracking, CCTV, digital attendance records, and the ability to use a panic button. It can therefore help schools to improve the visibility of their transport services, the monitoring of safety, and their daily operational control.

Learn How SchoolBus2.0 Meets Maharashtra School Bus Requirements

Conclusion

The Maharashtra school bus regulations of 2026 aim to improve safety, increase digital visibility and ensure accountability in school transportation. As the three-month compliance deadline draws near, schools should now evaluate their arrangements, identify any gaps and begin to address them.

Talk to us before your compliance deadline → [Book a Free Demo with SchoolBus2.0]