CHENNAI: Footboard travelling by school students has cost many young lives in the city, and the government has decided it’s time for action. The School Education Department has warned that they will cancel free bus passes for students who are repeatedly found travelling on footboard.
In a circular to all schools by S Kannappan, the director of school education, the school authorities have been instructed to warn first-time offenders in the presence of their parents. He has also advised schools to take action if the traffic police bring such instances to their notice.
If the students continue to violate this rule, free bus passes provided by the State government will be cancelled. Disciplinary action will also be taken against the particular student, the circular added.
The Chief Educational Officers from all districts have been instructed to identify students who use buses that are generally crowded and explain the rules to them. A few State-run schools have planned to conduct a parent-teachers’ meeting in which a senior official from the local traffic police wing will explain why footboard travel has to be avoided.
Kannappan, in his circular, has reiterated that ‘bus day celebrations’ by the students are banned, as recommended by the high-level committee comprising senior officials from School Education, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), traffic and law & order police.