‘Encouraging travel by bus is socially relevant’

The draft committee of the state transport ministry is seeking support from the private schools and also examining the legal aspect in regard to the proposal to ban students from being dropped to school in private cars.

“This (the proposal) is at a primary stage. The government is thinking of ways to deter parents from bringing private vehicles to schools,” said UPS Madan, senior IAS officer and chairman of the draft committee. “The areas around schools are heavily congested. The move would relieve traffic congestion. Besides, it will also be socially relevant; if all students come together by the same bus, the ones who don’t have cars won’t feel inferior to those who have them.”

“There is no problem as far as BMC schools are concerned because most of their students live close by,” said Chandrashekhar Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner (education). “But a rule banning cars should be there for private schools.”