The war against underage biking has received a fresh impetus in the state capital with the Ranchi district administration asking all private schools to crack down on students riding to campuses on two-wheelers by conducting regular inspections and seizing vehicles.

Ranchi deputy commissioner (DC) Manoj Kumar, who penned down the order on Monday, issued the letters to principals of 40 CBSE and ICSE schools spread across the city on Tuesday.

DTO Nagendra Paswan has been asked to ensure that the directive was being followed in toto.

DC Kumar has strictly mentioned in the letter that all principals should conduct checks every day to find out whether students below 18 years, who are minors and hence not allowed driving licence under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, were riding bikes. Those disobeying the rule must be pulled up and their parents summoned.

However, in keeping with a provision of the Motor Vehicles Act, students can be allowed to ride a two-wheeler with engine capacity not exceeding 50CC, provided he or she is 16 years' old.

Some of the Ranchi schools to have received the missive are Sacred Heart, Kairali School, DAV group of schools, DAV Nandraj Public School, Surendranath Centenary School, Manan Vidya, Bishop Westcott Girls' and Boys' schools, Army Public School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, G&H High School, Central Academy, Sachidanand Gyan Bharti Model School and Vivekanand Vidya Mandir.

"A month ago, a few parents had approached me and complained that their children, all minors and studying in Classes IX and X, didn't want to take school buses. Instead, they were adamant about taking two-wheelers to attend classes. Such parents are apprehensive that the students will meet road accidents," Kumar said.

Following that meeting, the DC constituted a Road Safety Committee to decide rules that will check deaths caused by reckless teenage biking. "The committee members suggested that we send letters to all principals and ask them to keep a tab on their underage students," Kumar said.

Apart from the DC himself, the committee comprises city SP, SSP, traffic SP, DTO, deputy traffic SP, DSP, district forest officer, district development commissioner and members of two city-based NGOs - Rise Up and Bharat Ki Pehchan.

Principals promised to be cautious after receiving the letter.

C.J. Jacob, head of CBSE-affiliated Kairali School, said: "Yes, we have few ninth and tenth graders who are attending schools in bikes. We scold them and they stop coming to classes on two-wheelers. But after a few days, it is back to square one. Today (Tuesday), I have informed all teachers to apprise the students of the district administration's directive. Hopefully, they will adhere to traffic rules now."

What else can be done to stop underage biking? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com