BEST wants to take your kids to school …..TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: If youre afraid of sending your child to school in an unlicenced private vehicle, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking may just have a solution to your problem. A BEST bus that doubles up as a school bus.
After six children were killed in two separate accidents involving private vehicles that were ferrying kids to school without a permit, the BEST is toying with a proposal to start its own school bus service.
Although there is no detailed proposal as yet, BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade said depot managers across Mumbai have been asked to get in touch with wellknown schools to discuss pointto-point bus services.
Any school that wants us to provide a BEST bus to ferry kids can enter into a contract with the undertaking, provided they have at least 40 children. A BEST bus can pick up children from one fixed point (read bus stop) and drop them to school, he said.
Many private vehicles that transport kids do not follow the desired safety standards, Khobragade said, adding that BEST buses would be a lot safer, as the undertaking is not in the business for profits.
The proposal has evoked a mixed response from parents and educationists. Arundhati Chavan of the PTA United Forum said the new scheme will be a boon for children. Most of the private bus operators are not bothered about childrens lives. BEST buses will be a safer option for students, and prove economical for parents, she said.
School principals are glad that the government is willing to share the responsibility of transporting children to school. Some feel that while its not always easy to hold private vehicles responsible for mishaps, at least the BEST can be held accountable. This will be a great move as the BEST already has a well-established system in place, said Najma Kazi, principal of Anjuman-I-Islams Saif Tyabji Girls School.
Activist Indrani Malkani said, Its not possible for the BEST buses to negotiate narrow gullies and bylanes. A mix of the regular buses as well as mini-buses may be a good idea, provided the BEST charges a nominal rate, she said.
While parents agreed that the BEST proposal was a step in the right direction, they were slightly sceptical about the implementation of the scheme. While there are instances of accidents involving private vehicles, BEST buses too have mowed down people on the road, said Hema Nadkarni, a parent.
Private vehicles do not follow the desired safety standards. BEST buses would be a lot safer as the undertaking is not in the business for profits…U Khobragade ( BEST GM.)