Friendly Bus, an initiative by the district administration to turn Ernakulam into a student-friendly bus district, will kick in from Thursday.
The project has been designed as a solution to the recurrent complaints about school and college students being denied entry and travel concession in private buses. District Collector S. Suhas announced the programme after factoring in the grievances of bus operators as well at a meeting of the Student Travel Facilitation Panel held on Wednesday.
Under the programme, students can text their complaints about private buses on the WhatsApp number 8281998933. All complaints except those of criminal nature can be lodged by students in this manner. Action will be taken on complaints by passing them to the Regional Transport Office, the police, and associations of bus owners and staff.
Complaints will be resolved within a time frame ranging from 24 hours to a week. The District Road Transport Officer will be the nodal officer of the programme. Motor Vehicle Inspectors will constantly keep an eye on complaints received over WhatsApp.
The project aims at ensuring the smooth and safe transportation of students aboard private buses. The Collector warned of stern action against buses against which frequent complaints of similar nature are sent. Plans are also afoot to organise counselling sessions for bus employees under the aegis of the Motor Vehicle Department and the police. The Collector also promised special packages beneficial to bus operators and employees.
The meeting decided to extend the validity of the concession cards of students from the previous year. KSRTC officials informed the meeting that students upto Plus Two level can travel upto 40 kilometres for free on taking a card worth ₹10.
