For students, the biggest challenge is not always related to academics.
It’s just the seemingly simple task of getting into a private bus for their daily trips to schools or colleges.
But with private bus employees treating them like pariahs on account of their right to concessions, it’s anything but simple. Private buses stopping away from waiting students at bus stops has become a common sight and in the process often other passengers also suffer.
A solution to the vexed issue finally seems to be in the horizon for students. Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) will soon publish contact numbers of Joint Regional Transport Officers concerned.
These will be put up on the doors of private buses by the end of the month of June so that students can register their complaints. Denying entry into buses and concessions are two major concerns of students when it comes to private buses.
Squads to ensure safety
MVD has deployed special enforcement squads near schools to keep a close eye over school buses and other private vehicles engaged in transporting students between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. throughout the month.
Three squads have been deployed under the Ernakulam Regional Transport Office limits and one each under each of the five sub RTOs in the district.
Each squad comprises of a motor vehicle inspector (MVI) and two assistant MVIs.
Rs. 1,18,000-crore project scrapped
People who were having sleepless nights over possible loss of their property for the proposed high speed rail corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod can now heave a sigh of relief.
The assurance came at a meeting of residents associations held last week at Thrikkakara when local MLA Benny Behanan said that the government has dropped the project worth Rs. 1,18,000 crore.
“The project had to be dropped due to a variety of issues ranging from land acquisition to feasibility. People’s representatives were also concerned about the alignment through the thickly populated area though they approved of the project’s utility,” Mr. Behanan told The Hindu.
