Schools agree to hire BMTC buses

Schools agree to hire BMTC buses

The Hindu


BANGALORE: When most schools reopen this week, chances are a large number of students will be travelling by buses hired from the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

The city traffic police have proposed rules to prevent traffic jams near the premises of schools during their working hours.

They have proposed "no-stoppage zone" rules from June near 15 schools in busy areas specified by them. This effectively covers all schools centrally located in the city in areas such as Richmond Road, St. Mark's Road and Residency Road.

Suggestion


There may be restrictions on private vehicles such as vans, cars and two-wheelers in front of the schools unless they are only passing through. The police have suggested that parents and drivers drop students about 200 metres from school gates. This is expected to gradually reduce the chaos on roads near school zones. Some schools have accepted the suggestion and feel it will help to smoothen traffic.

The BMTC, which has provided 235 buses for schools, plans to offer 100 additional buses by June 1 at concessional rates. For example, the peak hour rates (between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8 p.m.) for schools will be Rs. 14.50 a km for ordinary buses, Rs/ 17 for Pushpak buses and Rs. 13 for mini buses.

An official from Baldwin Girls' High School said: "We have six or seven buses of our own, and have plans to get more buses if they are needed."

The suggestion will help decongest roads around schools where many accidents have occurred."

An official from Bishop Cotton Girls' High School said that school has hired six buses.

A spokesperson for Baldwin Boys' School said: "We have our buses and most students use them. The buses come right into our school campus to drop and pick up the children and they don't cause traffic jams. However, hiring more buses from the BMTC will be an advantage."