Solapur engg college students push for safe, bus transport
CHALLENGE
In the absence of a smooth road connectivity, students of the Vidya Vikas Pratishthan (VVP) College of Engineering in Solapur have to walk two kilometers from the main road to the college every day. Worse still, the students from rural areas have to walk a total of eight km’s from the State Transport bus stand to reach the college. Six-seater rickshaws are the only option available from the ST stand to the main road. This is an unsafe and dangerous mode of transport as the rickshaw drivers carry more passengers than the permissible limit. A bus service by the college authority is available but it is insufficient and affordable for many students. So they are compelled to walk or take a rickshaw.
Considering the intensity of the issue, Young Inspirators Network (YIN) members from the VVP College have decided to follow up with the civic body to start a bus service.
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Expert View
SN Kulkarni
The college provides bus service for students on a contractual basis, but considering the number of students, there is a need for bus service by the civic body. This will help provide transport at a very minimal cost to the students. The initiative to start the city buses service by YIN members is commendable and this will also be beneficial to residents from nearby areas.
Vice Principal, VVP college of engineering, Solapur -
Mentor
Chandrakant Gudewar
The Solapur Municipal Corporation has demanded 50 buses for the city bus service. We will probably be getting these buses by November this year. Some of these buses will ply on the college route during college timings. This will provide safe transport for students from the college. We will also find out other colleges which face similar problems.
Commissioner, Solapur Municipal corporation. -
Students
Vrushali Salunkhe
Students from the college have to spend much time in travelling every day, looking for transport or walking to college. This is not only unsafe but time-consuming as well. The city bus service will help save time and provide safe transport.
Final Year, BA Computer Science -
Pravin Yalameli
The bus service by the college is expensive for students who come from middle-class and marginalized families and from rural areas around Solapur. As they cannot afford to spend on the college’s bus service, they have to take the option of travelling in overcrowded rickshaws which is unsafe transport. Considering all these problems faced by the students, bus service by the municipal corporation, which will be affordable to all students, is the need of time. Also, this will help in increasing the attendance of students in college.
Final year BE Computer science