In view of a clash in schedules between the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) on Saturday and the swearing-in ceremony of the new Karnataka government at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Stadium, Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) director Ramya S has requested the Bengaluru traffic department to ensure a smooth and hassle-free commute for candidates arriving at St Joseph’s College. The request was made specifically for this particular examination centre considering its proximity to Kanteerava Stadium. According to KEA officials, the authority has sent messages to all parents and students informing them to report to the examination centres by 9 am. The first session of the exam is scheduled at 10.30 am. The KEA has also made arrangements for breakfast and lunch, particularly at St Joseph’s College, in light of the swearing-in ceremony. “Since students will find it difficult to go out for breakfast and lunch because of the swearing-in ceremony, we have arranged for the same in the centre. There are possibilities of huge gatherings around the stadium…which is why we have issued directions to police to allow the students to reach the centre hassle-free, upon showing the hall tickets,” Ramya said. According to KEA, a total of 564 students are appearing for the CET examination at St Joseph’s College. KEA has also issued an advisory to students to avoid certain roads en route to Kanteerava Stadium and take appropriate diversions. “We have requested police to allow parents and students to commute even on blocked roads around the stadium, upon showing the hall ticket,” said Ramya. In addition, Special Commissioner (Traffic) for Bengaluru M A Saleem has imposed prohibitory orders around 200 metres from the CET examination centres falling under the police commissionerate. Saleem has also ordered the closure of all photocopy shops around the examination centres to ensure an error-free and seamless examination. A total of 2,60,000 students are set to take the KCET this year which is scheduled to take place from May 20 to May 22 across the state. A total of 1.4 lakh girls and 1.21 lakh boys will write the exam across 592 examination centres in Karnataka. Out of the 592 centres, 121 are located in Bengaluru. KCET is a gateway for admission into professional courses for government share of seats in medical, dental, Indian systems of medicine and homeopathy, engineering/architecture courses, farm science (i.e. BSc (Agriculture), BSc (Sericulture), BSc (Horticulture), BSc (Forestry), BSc Agri Bio Tech and BHSc Home Science), among other professional courses.
