School children roped in for traffic management

HYDERABAD: Traffic police will now crack the whip on schools which obstruct smooth movement of traffic outside their premises. Hyderabad district collector Natarajan Gulzar has directed traffic officials and the district education officials to conduct checks on how schools handle parking outside their premises before and after school timings. “We will take stern action against schools found guilty of violating norms and blocking traffic,” he said.Already the initiative of appointing students as School Traffic Commandos (STCs) to curb traffic snarls has borne some positive results. City police commissioner AK Khan said, “School traffic commandos have helped to reduce traffic jams taking place in front of many schools, with vehicles being parked adjacent to the premises.” Police have also sought the help of school managements in maintaining smooth flow of traffic outside their premises, with the new academic year starting from June 13. CV Anand, additional commissioner of police (Traffic) said school managements have been asked to inform parents not to hire autos which carry more than six children. He also directed them to install safety signboards near the premises to create awareness among students on traffic rules and regulations. He said the drive launched with regard to safety of school children had been yielding results. More than 50 schools have resorted to staggered timings, deployment of one security guard for every 300 children, allowing vehicles into the school compound to ease congestion outside and checking of school buses for mechanical snags.Students would be selected to regulate traffic outside their respective school premises. “Schools will select suitable students from Class VIII and IX to act as commandos. They will wear uniform given by traffic police and regulate traffic in front of schools. About 24 school children from each school will be enrolled as traffic commandos. They will come to school half-an-hour before school commences and regulate traffic before and after the school gives over,” he explained.D Panduranga Rao, joint transport commissioner said the drive to check fitness of school buses will end shortly. He said they refused renewal of certificates to school buses which failed to submit valid documents and did not pass the fitness test.