COIMBATORE: College students who travel on footboards of buses could lose their free bus passes issued by the government, as per stringent measures being adopted by the Higher Education department.
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The department has come up with new guidelines to control ‘anti-social activities’ inside and outside the campuses of higher education institutions in the State, including curbing footboard travel, making basic security arrangements within the institution premises, formation of campus monitoring flying squads and providing counselling to students.
The guidelines put the onus on the police and transport officials to identify the bus routes wherein footboard travel is commonplace. They should form squads to identify habitual footboard travellers and take appropriate action under transport and traffic rules and the IPC.
This should also be reported to the college principal concerned so that action can be initiated against the erring student in the form of warning, withdrawal of free bus pass and suspension.
The guidelines further state that CCTV cameras focusing on entry and alighting points of buses and traffic signals should be installed to identify students travelling on footboards. They also suggest a ban on ‘Bus Day’ celebrations.
Other proposed measures include strict enforcement of traffic rules, adjustments to timings of colleges wherever possible to ease traffic congestion and prevent overcrowding and accidents, operation of special buses for college students and ensuring that the doors of the buses are closed during commute. The respective District Collectors will be responsible for reviewing ragging, footboard travelling and anti-social activities on- and off-campuses.