Shillong, Mar 22: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said schools in Shillong are wary of starting bus service for students as they are of the view that the primary concern of educational institutions is to impart education.
The chief minister suggested the option of handing over the task of running the buses to societies.
Currently the public transport system is manned by private societies.
Sangma, while replying to a question on government school buses raised by Trinamool Congress MLA from Nongthymmai Charles Pyngrope, said the state government does not have any intention to make school buses mandatory. However, it has earmarked an amount of Rs 11.30 crore, of which Rs 0.17 crore has been spent on purchase of buses. He did not make clear how many buses have been purchased so far.
The state government, through the Planning, Investment Promotion and Sustainable Development Department, will fund the project to buy school buses, which will be 30-seater midi diesel vehicles.
Pyngrope pointed out that the government can consider city-based BK Bajoria School, which runs its buses, as a case study for other schools.
To this, Sangma said that the government would certainly look into it. He asserted that the government is also looking into other options to come to a consensus on the school bus service as well as to decongest the roads of Shillong.
In this context, he mentioned that 15 schools have come forward to avail of the government project
He said 60 per cent of city students is using private vehicles.
Saleng Sangma (Congress) opposed the move of the government to hand over the buses to the societies.
Ardent Basaiawmoit (VPP) raised the issue of regulating mushrooming of schools in the city to ease traffic congestion.
The chief minister said the matter will be examined.
