The reduction in traffic snarls in the city following the staggering of the working hours of leading private schools has prompted the police and traffic planners to make out a case for similar changes in leading government schools.
The staggering of working hours of schools such as St. Thomas, Mukkolakkal; L'ecole Chempaka, Edavacode; Christ Nagar; and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; and the shift system in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, have reduced the traffic gridlocks in the localities to a great extent.
The staggering of the working hours of various sections of St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Pattom, by just 10 minutes had eased the traffic congestion on the National Highway in front of the school, a city police official said.
Law enforcers have now started persuading the government schools in the capital city to change their working hours to avoid the rush in front of the schools. It has been pointed out that changing the working hours of major schools such as the Cotton Hill Girls Higher Secondary School, Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, SMV Higher Secondary School, Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Manacaud and Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Pattom will help reduce traffic blocks considerably.
“We have taken up the issue with the Principals of these schools. They were asked to consider staggering the working hours of various sections. But they are insisting on a government order to change the working hours at least by 10 minutes,” the official said.
The government schools follow the 9.30 a.m-3.30 p.m. time schedule. Of the 1,500 schools in the district, around 500 are within the Corporation limits.
The police have imposed parking restrictions in front of the schools near Pattom.
