Bangalore City Traffic Police along with Bangalore Agenda Task Force and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation had conceptualized “ Safe Route to School ” project in the year 2004. The main aim of this project was to decongest traffic around schools in Bangalore City and to ensure greater safety for school children on Bangalore City roads. In this connection a detail study of traffic situation around schools in Bangalore City was undertaken by Bangalore City Traffic Police through Traffic Training Institute and Consultancy. The study revealed that, School children who were traveling in two-wheelers and cars are highly vulnerable to road accidents.
Further, in order to evolve suitable strategy to ensure greater safety for school children and to decongest traffic around schools, a study was conducted in 16 schools in central area of Bangalore. These 16 schools are:-
- Bishop Cotton Boys’ High School
- Bishop Cotton Girls’ High School
- Baldwin Boys’ High School
- Baldwin Girls’ High School
- Sophia Girls’ High School
- Kendriya Vidyalaya
- Annes High School
- Sacred Heart Boys School
- Frank Anthony Public School
- Meeras High School
- National Public School
- Johns High School
- Charles High School
- Germains Boys’ High School
- Francis Xavier Girls High School
- Good Shepherd Convent.
Based on the study report, the following Action Plan was developed.
- Staggering of school timings to avoid school traffic clashing with normal peak hour traffic.
- Adopt public transport system for school children.
These recommendations were placed before the Task Force on Traffic Improvement in Bangalore City. The Bangalore City Task Force on Traffic Improvement during its meeting held on 14-03-2005 while adopting the proposals directed Education department to initiate a programme for schools to start early in the morning and close in the afternoon and also it was decided to adopt BMTC and other public transport vehicles for transportation of school children and in order to implement this action plan Police should impose restriction of parking around the schools. Consequently the Secretary, Primary Education Dept, called a meeting of private schools management on 17-03-2005 and in the meeting it was decided to start all Private English Medium Schools before 8-30 AM and close at 3-30 PM. To this effect, Education dept, issued a Circular in No ED 52 PMA 2005 Dt. 27-05-2005.
In order to encourage use of public transport system, 16 schools where Bangalore City Traffic Police had conducted studies were chosen on a pilot basis. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Primary Education Department wherein representatives of the above mentioned 16 schools participated. Based on the deliberation of the meeting the Circular vide No. ED 52 PMA 2005 Dt. 27-05-2005 was issued by Education Dept. The silent features of this Circular are:-
- In 16 un-aided private schools shown in annexure of Bangalore City, school children coming in two-wheelers and cars shall travel in buses. The schools shall collect bus fee along with the school fee and provide required buses for the school children.
- Students who are coming to school through walking, cycling and other public transport vehicles shall be exempted from this rule.
- This rule shall come into force from 01-07-2005
Public transport vehicles means mass transport vehicles like buses, vans and Auto-rickshaws which are exempted from the above rule.
In order to effectively implement the circular of Education department, Police Commissioner, Bangalore City has issued a Notification vide No. 13/Tr.Br/COP/2005 Dt. 22-06-2005 restricting the stopping and parking of private vehicles i.e. two-wheelers and cars around above mentioned 16 schools.
This Notification was implemented initially in the five following schools from 01-07-2005.
- Kendriya Vidyalaya
- Baldwin Boys’ School
- Baldwin Girls’ School
- Bishop Cotton Girls’ School
- Sophia Girls’ School
Subsequently, after the success of the project near the five schools, 2 more schools i.e. Bishop Cotton Boys School and Sacred Heart School voluntarily joined. From 18-07-2005 the scheme was implemented following five more schools.
- Good Shepherd Convent School
- St. Charles School
- Frank Anthony School
- St. Meeras High School,
- St. Annes High School.
The remaining four schools will be taken up once the preparations are complete.
This scheme is successful and it has fulfilled the two desired objectives. It has led to decongestion on important roads such as Residency road, St. Marks road, Richmond road, Hosur road, Palace road where these schools are located. In many of these schools, the school authorities have provided space inside the school campus to drop and pick school children leading to decongestion on the roads. BMTC has provided 204 buses to various schools including the 16 above mentioned schools during the current academic year. The students also are feeling comfort by traveling in School and BMTC buses. This has led to increased safety for school children. This also helps in inculcating the habit of traveling in public transport vehicles at a young age.
The ever increasing vehicle population in Bangalore City has resulted in congestion and traffic jams. The number of vehicles registered in Bangalore City alone is a staggering 22 lakhs. Use of public transport is one of the solutions to reduce vehicular traffic and congestion. In this regard Bangalore city traffic police has initiated a number of measures. One of the initiatives is popularizing the use of public transport system. Through the “ Safe Route to School ” project this objective will be achieved. At present only 16 schools are taken on a pilot basis. Subsequently this scheme will be implemented throughout Bangalore City.