Though the MTC buses are not designed specifically to accommodate school students unlike private school vans, they do not have broader facilities such as a footboard of a height of less than a feet.
During the strike called by the Tamil Nadu Nursery, Primary, Matriculation and Higher Secondary Schools Association on November 19, R. Shankar took permission from his office to drop and pick up his two children from school.
“Either someone from home picks up my children from school, or they go by school van,” he said, ruling out any possibility of sending his children by public buses, citing safety as his primary concern. But, few have the luxury of choice.
The Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles (Regulation and Control of School Buses) Special Rules 2012, prescribes stringent safety measures for school vans of private schools. However, the question of safety of MTC buses for schoolchildren, in which a sizeable number of students, studying mostly in government, government-aided and matriculation schools commute to school, remains.
Other than handling the anxiety and expectations surrounding the impending class X board examination, S. Chandralekha has to handle the weight of her school bag and the fatigue from travelling in an extremely crowded bus from Perungalathur to her school in Arumbakkam.
“I leave home at 6.30 a.m. and reach home only at 8 p.m.,” she said. Students complain of overcrowded buses and jerky braking, but observe that, though harrowing, it is often the only way to reach their schools if their neighbourhood is not connected by rail.
A headmaster of a Chennai Corporation-run school said it was common for students to come late to school in the morning, and attribute it to missing a crowded bus.
Though the MTC buses are not designed specifically to accommodate school students unlike private school vans, they do not have broader facilities such as a footboard of a height of less than a feet, 150cm x 120cm emergency exits, and an entrance door which can be closed and opened easily, mentioned in the special rules for school buses, for instance.
Addressing the issue, a transport official said that the special rules for school buses were formulated, primarily keeping in mind the safety of children under 12 years of age. “The issue of safety crops up only for children below the age of 12 who travel by MTC buses to schools.”
Twelve-year old M. Keerthana who studies in class VII and has been going by buses from Thiruverkadu to her school for the past two years said, “Sometimes the bus gets so crowded that I feel suffocated,” she said. “I cannot reach the handle on the top, and when it is crowded, you don’t get to hold the railing as well,” she said.
N. Nandhini, another student said that, though there are several students who travel by footboard for cheap thrills, there are several who are forced to board an overcrowded bus, as the frequency of many buses is low.
Keywords: road safety, MTC buses, overcrowded buses
I would suggest/request the concerned Government personnel to take the following actions to address the safety concerns.
[1]. Review the school timings with respect to area and changes to be made accordingly.
[2]. Services to be provided exclusively during the school timings for both pick-up and drop atleast in the congested traffic routes.
I am not sure whether these services are being operated those are commissioned by the previous government(Since as usual these also could have been dropped)
Yes, the schools should start at 07:00 and end at 14:00 so they can
easily assist the school goers to use the MTC, this will notionally assist
the MTC to be free from congestion and also the school goers to travel
while there is less traffic and crowd.
One of the possible solution would be MTC student-only buses everyday in morning and evening for school students. With this we can inculcate good manners such as standing in queue, time-management and road sense. As adults we have to give them a chance to learn and apply what they learn in schools. Another good solution would be monorail option as one of the reader has suggested.
As safety of one's life is a human right, the government has to think of ways to improve road conditions and have strategic plans to improve traffic condition all over TN for the coming 25-30 years. Let this government think ahead.
Government can run "School students special" buses at particular time of morning and evening on school routes. When we have ladies special buses and trains, this is not something impossible. We can work out something.
Secondly, its kind of funny to read the article where it is mentioned "Though the MTC buses are not designed". I have to clarify that none of buses (MTC, Omni buses etc.) are designed properly in the first place. None of our buses has safety exits, hammers to break the glass in emergency (in case of A/C coaches), speed control and routine mechanical, safety checks.
Technically speaking, we have a very long way to go.
Start all the schools at 7 am and finish them at 2 pm. Staggering school and office timings is one way to reduce overcrowding.
It is heart wrenching to see the picture. School kids without sandals
and small girls hanging dangerously on the foot board risking their
lives. Does the government even care about the basic infrastructure that
it is supposed to provide the citizens ? Who is going to hold the so
called authorities responsible for their duties ? i can say only one
thing. God save India. nobody else can save us.
The best transport solutions for densely populated cities have already been pioneered by the likes of the Japanese and Europeans by connecting, as it is pointed out in the article, by rail.
The metro needs to be expediated and expanded way more than the measly two lines that has been currently proposed. This, combined with the monorail, will lift the pressure of the roads so only the most necessary needs such as police, ambulance or transfer of goods use them.
even me 2 in same situation for more than 6 years when i am going to
college in avadi in chennai , one of my co friend died in bus accident
and my friend seriously injured , no one to blame other then our self
nothing can change if bus are empty also the young students used to hang
outside the bus no one is taking care off ...
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