all for traffic: The move is to decrease the traffic congestion during peak hours

Come next academic year, and you may no longer be able to send your child to school in the comforts of a car or a private bus.

In a bid to decrease traffic congestion during peak hours, a committee of senior IAS officers, including U P S Madan of the Mumbai Transformation Support Unit, has drafted a proposal to make it mandatory for students to travel to school and back only in school buses.

The committee is expected to submit its proposal by the month's end to the state government. To make this move successful, it has also recommended that subsidies be granted to schools. "We will soon submit the draft. Individual vehicles result in traffic. If students will use school-bus services, then the traffic conditions will improve," said Madan.

Schools agree

The proposal, if accepted, will be implemented from the next academic year. Most schools are in favour of this proposal. Vandana Lulla, principal of Poddar World School in Santacruz, had sent a letter to parents to send their children in school buses after the Millat school tragedy in January, where five children were killed and six were injured in a private van blaze. Lulla said, "The move will reduce traffic jams and ensure the child's security. I always advocate buses, as it is safe."

Principal Perin Bagli, Activity School at Peddar Road, said, "Our students come to school in car pools, which helps avoid traffic jams. The rule to make school buses mandatory is good."

Parents unhappy

However, parents are unhappy. They claim that most of the school buses either overcharge, or are not in good shape, and are also over crowded. Viral Shah from Mulund sends her child to school in a Matador, which can ply 20 children. "Schools don't provide good buses and overcharge. If the incentives that the government will grant are used properly, then I will consider sending my child in a school bus," said Shah.