Remaining 17 buses will be pressed into service within next 3-4 months
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 17: The STEMS bus service, which currently caters to around 1,300 school students in Shillong, will be adding 17 more buses to its fleet over the next 3-4 months. This expansion is expected to increase the number of student commuters to nearly 2,000, reducing reliance on private vehicles for school transportation.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Additional CEO of STEMS, Saloni Verma, said the initiative initially launched with 30 school buses, which served approximately 1,300 students. The government later procured 30 additional 24-seater buses, 13 of which have already been deployed.
“The remaining 17 buses will be pressed into service within the next 3-4 months,” Verma stated.
Highlighting efforts to enhance student safety, Verma mentioned that authorities have identified certain areas where children disembark that currently lack sufficient coverage. These gaps will soon be addressed.
She also acknowledged a few minor complaints regarding drivers. In response, a new policy is being developed that will include disciplinary provisions for drivers to ensure better accountability.
While several schools in Shillong have adopted the service, many others remain hesitant.
Verma attributed this reluctance largely to misinformation. “We have an impact assessment report, parent testimonials, and studies conducted by the PMU, all of which show that the buses save time for parents and are a more affordable mode of transportation,” she added.
Efforts are also under way to improve the mobile app associated with the service, following reports from parents about minor glitches.