But only 38 institutions are part of the Safe Route to School
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| Despite the presence of bus services available under the Safe Route to School programme parents still prefer to send their children in vehicles of their choice. File Photo |
The Safe Route to School programme — which involves encouraging the use
of public transport — is among one such that started with much gusto in
2005 by the traffic police and in co-operation with the Transport
Department to help provide schools with buses.
However, not everyone seems to have taken to the initiative as many
parents still prefer to send their children in vehicles of their choice.
Too few takers
Out of the estimated 6,246 schools in Bangalore city and its outskirts,
just 38 have employed the services of the Bangalore Metropolitan
Transport Corporation (BMTC), according to Transport Department
officials.
Speaking to The Hindu, one said: “We are operating 287 buses for 45 educational institutions. Of these, 38 are schools and seven colleges.”
The department gives a concession of Re. 1 to schools and charges
colleges Rs. 27 per km. Pushpak buses charges a flat rate of Rs. 29 per
km for both schools and colleges. The official said there was increasing
demand by institutions for the service and had recently agreed to
provide the transport to two new schools as well.
“The range of services depends on the institution’s requirements. While
some schools deploy two or three buses, others [charter] more than 20 or
30 buses.”
Police presence
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) M.A. Saleem
also said the old restriction on parking within 200 metres of the school
was not in effect anymore.
“It is a matter of children’s safety. They need not walk the distance.
Instead, there are police constables, along with a police platoon,
manning the area around the school to control the congestion and help
students. Children are the most vulnerable section of society and their
safety is a matter of utmost importance,” Mr. Saleem added.
The Safe Route to School was introduced to ensure children’s safety during the commute during peak morning hours.
With so much of private transport on the road, ferrying them to school
and adults to their workplaces, public transport was not in the
reckoning. This is why the police and the Transport Department came
together with a solution to safeguard the youngsters.
Mr. Saleem said various other programmes were being undertaken as part
of the initiative. The School Association for Road Safety has also been
conducting safety awareness programme for schoolchildren in the Traffic
Park on St. Marks Road.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/theres-always-the-bus-as-a-safe-route-to-school/article4831123.ece
