The Madurai division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) officials are working out modalities to operate exclusive bus services on select destinations, on trial basis, for schoolchildren from the ensuing academic year, according to its General Manager A. Venkatachalam.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said that following representations from the media, schools, parents and the police department, the TNSTC officials examined the proposal.
“We are writing to school principals in the city to know about finer details like the student strength and the number of children using buses regularly. Based on the response, we plan to ply buses on a trial basis on select destinations from June, when schools reopen,” he added.
Though the TNSTC had issued free bus passes to about 1.70 lakh children, it might not be possible to ply exclusive services on all routes. The congested routes had been identified and in a bid to ensure that children travelled safely, the TNSTC had taken such an initiative, Mr. Venkatachalam said and added that for the benefit of students, it would depute its staff to schools to regulate the children who boarded buses.
Commissioner of Police P. Balasubramanian told The Hindu that the police would extend all possible assistance to the TNSTC officials in handling children in exclusive buses. “Wherever required, we will deploy additional strength which will facilitate children cross the roads and alight/board buses safely.”
