VIJAYAWADA : The timings of various schools in the city have been changed with effect from July 1. While there is no change in the total length of time during which classes are held in each of these schools, classes will begin 15 to 45 minutes either in advance or late. The ending of classes too will change accordingly.

Joint Collector and Additional District Magistrate S. Suresh Kumar issued orders to the effect to ensure free flow of traffic during peak hours.

School managements have to comply with the directive or else show sufficient cause for not being able to implement the new timings to the Joint Collector.

Month-long survey

The traffic police conducted a month-long survey over the existing pattern of timings of schools and colleges in the city and found that almost all educational institutions follow uniform timings, resulting in traffic congestions on roads during peak hours.

The problem is found to be acute in areas where there is a cluster of educational institutions.

The traffic police have finalised the changes and submitted them to the Joint Collector with an appeal to implement the changes.

"We took into consideration issues like location of educational institution, its strength and the mode of transportation for majority of the students while altering the timings," says T. Prabhakara Babu, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

Besides, implementing the new timings, the managements of educational institutions are expected to follow some other suggestions made by traffic police to regulate vehicular traffic in school zones. Installation of cautionary sign boards indicating pedestrian crossing, school, prohibition of horn and no parking at the institution, laying of zebra crossings at entry and exit of the institution, display of mandatory traffic signs at the notice boards for students and their parents are some of the suggestions.

Speed breakers

The managements will also have to lay speed breakers at a distance of 50 yards from the entry gate on both sides and paint the speed breakers with white or yellow and black stripes. Vehicles carrying students will have to be allowed into the school premises, so that they can ensure safety of students. The schools that have only one gate for entry and exit have been advised to arrange another to facilitate easy exit of vehicles.

Mr. Babu says they have observed that the managements of some schools are operating 70-seat buses even if schools are located in narrow lanes. "Instead of having one major vehicle, they can operate two mini vehicles to transport the students. That will not cause any traffic problem in the narrow lanes," he points out.

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