Soon, free bus service for girl students in Haryana

Geetanjali Gayatri

Chandigarh, January 16

The Haryana Government is at an advanced stage of finalising a free transport scheme for girl students to encourage their enrolment in institutes of higher education.

39K enrolments

• 39,000 girls of various colleges and other institutes have opted for the facility
• 479 routes have been identified on the basis of feedback from colleges
• Transport Department has earmarked 571 buses, each will ferry 60 girls

The need for the facility was felt as girls were unable to pursue higher studies and some couldn’t opt for courses of their choice as their parents were reluctant to send them to colleges located at a distance, said an official. “The facility will assure the parents of the safety of their daughters and allow the girls to choose colleges and courses of their interest,” said Principal Secretary (Higher Education) Anand Mohan Sharan. Sources said 39,000 girls of various colleges and other institutes had showed keenness for the facility. The Higher Education Department is learnt to have identified 479 routes on the basis of feedback received from colleges. Accordingly, the Transport Department had earmarked 571 buses for the purpose and services would start once the Higher Education Department gave the green signal, said sources. Each bus will ferry 60 students. The facility will also be extended to those pursuing nursing and medical courses.

A facility on the same lines will be started for schools, but the Transport Department is yet to get the exact number of students to finalise the number of buses and routes. “As schools are closed, we don’t know how many students will opt for the facility. Moreover, the girls who have been provided free bicycles by the government will be excluded from the scheme,” said an officer in the Transport Department.Sources said providing buses for schoolgirls could prove to be a headache in view of the depleting fleet of vehicles. The officer, however, said private buses could be hired. “Moreover, we have 11,000 maxi cabs registered with the Transport Department. We can tie up with them to provide the service at fixed rates,” the officer said.

Several rounds of meetings have already been held for the service for schools under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (School Education) Mahavir Singh. The government is already providing free bus service to college going in Panchkula, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Ambala and Kurukshetra districts.