The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Civic body offers to build FOBs near schools

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Civic body offers to build FOBs near schools

Staff Reporter

Asks managements to contribute 25 per cent of the cost

HYDERABAD: The GHMC is ready to build Foot-Over-Bridges near educational institutions if the latter bears 25 per cent of the cost.

This was announced by GHMC Additional Commissioner N.V.S. Reddy here on Wednesday. He was speaking at a workshop organised by city traffic police marking the formation of ‘School Level Traffic Awareness and Transport Committee’ (STATCOM).

Mr. Reddy maintained that the Government earlier demanded that a school or college bear 50 per cent of the FOB’s construction cost. “But now we’re ready to build the skywalk by releasing 75 per cent funds if the school or college concerned is ready to bear even 25 per cent of the construction cost,” he explained.

He said that Rs. 10 lakh were earmarked out of the funds allocated for the Metro Rail project for the STATCOM to organise publicity about road safety. But the response from schools for contributions to provide road markings was poor. Only 10 schools had responded out of 200 schools which were requested to contribute Rs. 12,000 for taking up road markings and other arrangements, he said.

Buses of schools and colleges would be detained if they are used to ply passengers for private parties, warned Transport Commissioner J. Raymond Peter on Wednesday. It was found that vehicles of educational institutions meant for transporting students were being used to ply passengers for private functions. This was against rules and would attract action, he remarked. “Next time if I find any bus engaged for private party, it won’t be back on roads. There would be no use if you bring students saying it is their bus,” he warned the managements of educational institutions. The Transport Commissioner also opposed parking of school or college buses on the roads. Parking of vehicles on roads should not be allowed as it was leading to traffic snarls. He appealed to the Education Department officials to ensure that educational institutions were located not in crammed spaces but in buildings with adequate parking place.

City Police Commissioner B. Prasada Rao, Traffic Police Additional Commissioner V.S.K. Kaumudi, former DGP of Tamil Nadu V. Vaikunth were present.

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