Anahita Mukherji I TNN
Mumbai: Here’s a brand new government order that’s set to decongest Mumbai’s chock-a-block roads and simultaneously ensure the safety of children going to school. The state government has formed a committee to formulate a policy that will ensure all children travel by schoolbuses.
While the policy will eventually be implemented across Maharashtra, it will first be tested in Mumbai. The committee—formed after a recent government resolution—is chaired by transport commissioner S S Shinde, and includes officials from the education and traffic department as well as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Indrani Malkani, architect of the model schoolbus system implemented in Cathedral and John Connon School, is also a part of the committee.
“I’m glad the model schoolbus system, which I formulated along with the traffic police and Cathedral school authorities, is now being used to solve traffic woes across the city and provide safe transport for children,’’ said Malkani.
“Besides decongesting roads, universalising the schoolbus system will also reduce class differences between students. A student who owns a BMW and one who travels by rickshaw will now sit side-by-side in the schoolbus,’’ said Shinde.
“This system will also encourage wealthy children to use public transport later on in life,’’ added Malkani.
According to Shinde, at least 30% to 40% schools in the city have their own grounds, so schoolbuses can enter the school premises where children can board and alight, enhancing safety.
While children will not be allowed to travel to school in cars, those who live close to the school can walk to and from school; the rest can choose between the school bus and public transport.
“Getting nearly all schoolchildren onto the schoolbus is no easy task. In addition to facing parents unwilling to forgo the comfort of a private vehicle, we will also have to tackle the issue of finding enough buses for the job,’’ said UPS Madan, project manager for the Mumbai Transportation Support Unit, who is one of the members of the committee on schoolbuses. Private bus operators will have to be hired on contract for the schoolbus system.
The committee has considered seeking permission from the BEST to park schoolbuses at BEST stands for the night. “We’re also thinking of providing incentives for private bus operators to run schoolbuses, such as a discount on passenger tax,’’ added Madan.
The use of software to draw up efficient bus routes has also been considered by the committee which is in the process of deciding how many students should travel on one bus, as well as the kind of vehicles that should be used as schoolbuses.
The recent government resolution on schoolbuses also calls for the constitution of a permanent standing committee which will co-ordinate the schoolbus service.
anahita.mukherji@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: Here’s a brand new government order that’s set to decongest Mumbai’s chock-a-block roads and simultaneously ensure the safety of children going to school. The state government has formed a committee to formulate a policy that will ensure all children travel by schoolbuses.
While the policy will eventually be implemented across Maharashtra, it will first be tested in Mumbai. The committee—formed after a recent government resolution—is chaired by transport commissioner S S Shinde, and includes officials from the education and traffic department as well as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Indrani Malkani, architect of the model schoolbus system implemented in Cathedral and John Connon School, is also a part of the committee.
“I’m glad the model schoolbus system, which I formulated along with the traffic police and Cathedral school authorities, is now being used to solve traffic woes across the city and provide safe transport for children,’’ said Malkani.
“Besides decongesting roads, universalising the schoolbus system will also reduce class differences between students. A student who owns a BMW and one who travels by rickshaw will now sit side-by-side in the schoolbus,’’ said Shinde.
“This system will also encourage wealthy children to use public transport later on in life,’’ added Malkani.
According to Shinde, at least 30% to 40% schools in the city have their own grounds, so schoolbuses can enter the school premises where children can board and alight, enhancing safety.
While children will not be allowed to travel to school in cars, those who live close to the school can walk to and from school; the rest can choose between the school bus and public transport.
“Getting nearly all schoolchildren onto the schoolbus is no easy task. In addition to facing parents unwilling to forgo the comfort of a private vehicle, we will also have to tackle the issue of finding enough buses for the job,’’ said UPS Madan, project manager for the Mumbai Transportation Support Unit, who is one of the members of the committee on schoolbuses. Private bus operators will have to be hired on contract for the schoolbus system.
The committee has considered seeking permission from the BEST to park schoolbuses at BEST stands for the night. “We’re also thinking of providing incentives for private bus operators to run schoolbuses, such as a discount on passenger tax,’’ added Madan.
The use of software to draw up efficient bus routes has also been considered by the committee which is in the process of deciding how many students should travel on one bus, as well as the kind of vehicles that should be used as schoolbuses.
The recent government resolution on schoolbuses also calls for the constitution of a permanent standing committee which will co-ordinate the schoolbus service.
anahita.mukherji@timesgroup.com
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