TiruchiTraffic police on Wednesday instructed footboard travellers to get inside the bus and travel safely at different points.
Though it was a welcome move to regulate the commuters from travelling on foot-board, the sudden presence of a large police personnel baffled the public during peak hour.
After the accident in suburban Chennai two days back, in which four students were killed when they were travelling on foot-board , the police here had taken the decision to regulate the commuters as a precautionary measure.
A senior police officer said, “We are educating the public to be safe while travelling. Our intention is to create awareness and not punish or abuse the commuters…” he clarified.
Traffic police at busy junctions said that youngsters resorted to foot board travel. In many cases, the commuters were forced to take the risky ride as there was rush during peak hours. Waiting for another bus may result in other problems, like the students may reach schools/colleges late, the police pointed.
The TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) could examine the possibilities of operating more number of buses on busy routes during peak hours. This may probably reduce the foot board travel and congestion experienced by commuters, a police officer at Periyar bus stand said.
However, a senior official in the TNSTC said that operating additional buses on select routes on a daily basis was not possible. Commuters should plan their departure in such a way that they reached the destination well in advance. The timings of office-goers and for those going to educational institutions could be staggered in such a way that they do not depart/arrive at the same time, he suggested.
Like the police, who had made some stretches into one-way, which had made vehicle flow some what better, educational institutions could also consider advancing the timings as Goripalayam junction wears a deserted look till 8.30 a.m., he summed up.
