Kids for low fare special buses on the rise,HC told

Data of 67 government schools was compiled and submitted in court. Of over 24,000 students in the 67 government schools,around 11,000 go to school on foot or cycle. A little over 5,000 students use auto rickshaws to travel to schools. Around 3,000 students are dropped by their parents. Report of meetings held to curtail the number of students ferried to schools by auto rickshaws was also submitted.

The Chandigarh Administration has been requested to make efforts to ensure that government school students avail the facility of special school buses. It has also been submitted that training be imparted to Traffic Marshals to man traffic outside schools. A three-day training programme was held in this regard for Traffic Marshals,so that there is no traffic chaos outside schools during school hours. Also,traffic marshals have been directed to help students cross roads.

Also,the High Court was assured that adequate steps were being taken to publicise the special school buses. The Court was told that advertisements will be issued in newspapers and on the FM.

In June,2012,the Chandigarh Administration decided to bring down bus fare for government school children to Rs 60 per month per child.

In some private schools,transportation costs Rs 60 per day. The UT was initially of the opinion that it should be brought down from Rs 500 to 250 per month. The decision was taken in the wake of concern shown by the high court in lowering bus fare for government school students.

Appreciating the steps taken by the Chandigarh Administration,the court has asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to emulate and consider providing similar special buses at low fare in their respective states.