By Avijit Lahiri and Rajesh Rajgor
For educational institutions, transportation is much more than moving students from one point to another; it is an extension of the school’s commitment to safety, discipline and care. For Delhi Public School (DPS), Dooars, that commitment has been strengthened through its growing fleet of Eicher school buses, enabling the institution to safely connect students from some of the most remote parts of North Bengal with quality education.
Today, DPS Dooars has emerged as one of the leading educational institutions in the region, serving nearly 1,100 students while continuing to expand its infrastructure and transport network. According to Mr. Kirtan Chhetri, Pro-Vice Chairman, Delhi Public School, Dooars, the school’s vision extends far beyond academic excellence.
“Our objective is not merely to create successful professionals but to nurture responsible citizens and good human beings. Academic excellence and character development must always go hand in hand,” says Kirtan.
Building Education Around Safety and Responsibility
Located in a geographically dispersed region, DPS Dooars caters to students travelling from towns and villages including Hashimara, Dalsingpara, Matelli and Chalsa. Many children undertake daily journeys of nearly 55 km each way, making reliable and comfortable transportation an essential part of the school’s educational ecosystem.
Recognising this responsibility, the school has established a structured transportation system supported by trained drivers, helpers, teachers and transport supervisors. Every bus is regularly monitored, while the transport staff undergo periodic counselling and guidance sessions to reinforce safe driving practices and responsible behaviour.
“Safety is a shared responsibility. Drivers, helpers, teachers and students all have an important role to play. We continuously counsel our transport staff and educate students on safe behaviour during their daily commute,” explains Kirtan.
Interestingly, student awareness is not limited to classroom sessions. Kirtan personally interacts with students inside buses whenever required, particularly to address behavioural concerns or reinforce safety practices. According to him, these informal interactions often create a stronger impact than conventional classroom instructions, helping students understand discipline in a practical environment.
Choosing Eicher for Reliability and Long-Term Performance
As the school’s transportation requirements continue to grow every year, fleet selection has become a strategic decision rather than simply adding more buses. For DPS Dooars, Eicher has consistently met key operational expectations through dependable performance, fuel efficiency and reliable after-sales support.
The institution currently operates around 18 Eicher buses across its Sunshine School and DPS Dooars campuses. According to Kirtan, the decision to continue with the brand is based on practical experience accumulated over several years. “Good service support, excellent fuel economy and durable performance have been the biggest reasons behind our continued association with Eicher. The buses have stood up well to our operating conditions,” he notes.
The drivers have also shared positive feedback regarding ride quality. Smooth handling, minimal jerks and stable suspension contribute significantly to passenger comfort, particularly because many students spend over two hours travelling every day. Comfortable seating, better suspension and wider tyres further improve the overall travel experience, especially on long rural routes. Fuel efficiency has emerged as another major advantage. “Fuel economy is one of the strongest advantages of Eicher buses. It contributes significantly to reducing our operating costs,” says Kirtan.
Supporting Schools Beyond the Vehicle
Modern school transportation extends well beyond supplying buses. Increasingly, educational institutions expect manufacturers to become long-term mobility partners by providing driver training, technical support, preventive maintenance and safety awareness initiatives.
Over the years, Eicher has built a strong reputation in the school bus segment through vehicles designed specifically for student transportation, backed by an extensive service network and dedicated customer support. Driver familiarisation programmes, preventive maintenance practices and periodic service interventions help schools maximise vehicle uptime while ensuring safer daily operations.
For institutions such as DPS Dooars, where buses cover long distances every day, dependable after-sales support plays an equally important role. While appreciating Eicher’s service response, Kirtan believes further strengthening spare parts availability in regional hubs such as Siliguri would significantly reduce vehicle downtime and improve customer convenience.
He also suggested that factory-fitted CCTV systems would be a valuable addition for school operators. “Integrated CCTV systems supplied directly by the manufacturer would make implementation easier for schools while enhancing safety and monitoring inside the buses,” he suggests.
Growing Together with the Region
Despite operating in a relatively remote part of North Bengal, DPS Dooars has steadily expanded its educational infrastructure. Spread across nearly 10 acres, the campus offers modern academic and sports facilities while maintaining a controlled student intake to ensure personalised attention.
Kirtan believes that bringing the Delhi Public School brand to the region was driven more by social responsibility than commercial opportunity. “Many questioned why we brought DPS to such a backward region. Our belief was simple; society has given us so much, and quality education should be available closer to home so that families need not send children far away,” he says.
The school continues to witness healthy student growth every year and adds new buses annually to meet increasing transportation demand. As infrastructure expands, the transport network will remain central to delivering accessible education across the region.