By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In an attempt to further decongest traffic in the city, the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) is contemplating a bus service for the students of the city.
Informing this here on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SMB, T Lyngwa, stated that the Board will start the bus service on a pilot project basis.
Under the service, students would be picked up from their respective localities and dropped at their respective schools and vice versa.
“We are working out the modalities and the routes for the proposed bus service and discussions are on in this regard,” Lyngwa added.
Initially, there are plans to start the bus service to a few schools in and around Dhankheti, the CEO mentioned, while adding that the idea behind the proposed bus service is to decongest traffic in the city.
According to Lyngwa, the Board would be seeking buses under the Central Government funds and a nominal fee would be charged from the students to sustain the bus service.
Lyngwa informed that the Board is planning to start the ‘smart ticket system’ wherein students would pay the bus fares on a monthly basis instead of a daily basis.
The CEO also informed that the Board has held discussions with the management of St. Edmund’s School on the pros and cons of the proposed bus service for students.
“They were quite positive,” he added.
It may however be mentioned that many parents, had, earlier rejected a similar proposal on the grounds of security for their children/wards.
At present the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) has designated a few buses for ferrying the students.
