By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 20: The Meghalaya government has asserted that the introduction of 30 State Transport for Efficient Mobility Society or STEMS buses for school-going children has significantly reduced traffic congestion in the city.
The initiative has resulted in the removal of approximately 900 private vehicles from Shillong’s roads, the government said, adding that an additional number of 30 buses would be rolled out this year, which is expected to further reduce the vehicular load by 1,800.
On Thursday, Secretary of the Education Department, Swapnil Tembe, confirmed the expansion of the STEMS bus initiative. “Each bus accommodates 30 students, meaning 30 fewer private vehicles on the road. With 60 such buses in operation, the number of vehicles on the road will be reduced by around 1,800,” he explained.
Tembe acknowledged that the initial response to the service was lukewarm. However, he noted that demand has significantly increased as parents and students have begun to recognize the benefits of the service, which offers features not commonly found elsewhere in India. “One of the key advantages of the STEMS buses is the convenience and security they provide. Once students disembark, they are safely guided to their schools, and parents receive real-time notifications on their mobile phones,” Tembe said.
He further informed that all 30 designated routes for the buses are fully occupied. Due to the growing popularity of the service, similar requests have emerged from other towns like Jowai and Tura, prompting the government to consider extending the initiative beyond Shillong.
Despite its success, the service faces some logistical challenges. Certain school routes are too narrow for full-sized buses to navigate, making access difficult. To address this, the department is exploring the possibility of deploying smaller vehicles such as vans or mini buses.
Another major hurdle is the lack of adequate parking spaces for the buses. However, Tembe assured that the government is actively working on solutions to mitigate these issues.
“The safety of the students is our top priority, and we have ensured that the buses are completely secure. This has led to increased demand for more such buses in Shillong and other parts of the state,” he added.
With the continued expansion of the STEMS bus service, the government aims to further decongest the city’s roads while providing a safe and efficient transport system for students.