India, Sept. 13 -- The first 12-seater school van in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) which adheres with the state government's new school van policy guidelines has been registered at the Thane Regional Transport Office (RTO). The van, with in-built safety features like emergency exit, storage racks, fire alarm, and a vehicle tracking device, is registered in the name of NA Khan from Mumbra, said RTO officials.

"This school van will be safe and comfortable for students," said an RTO official. "The process of obtaining a student transport permit for the van is currently ongoing."

Most school vans in the MMR can seat only six passengers but ferry many more students to school, with scant regard for safety.

In August, the state governm...