School bus services will be introduced on a trial basis in four schools under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said its mayor Md Atiqul Islam on Wednesday.
The move is expected to ease traffic congestion in the city, said the mayor at a meeting on launching the school bus service.
Although the service will be launched for English medium schools first, all schools will gradually be brought under this.
He said pollution and carbon emissions will also be reduced to a large extent after introduction of this service. “We are talking to stakeholders. Many teachers have also agreed to this.”
Regarding the safety of students, Atiq said modern technology including CCTV cameras will be installed inside the school buses as well as tracking systems through apps.
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Besides, training for school bus drivers and staff will also be provided. There will be a hotline number through which parents can contact round the clock, he added.
Regarding the bus routes, the mayor said this will be determined according to the address of all the students. Through ride-sharing, students of schools on a certain route will travel in one bus.
The mayor also said no private vehicles carrying students will be allowed to enter within 100 yards of schools if the school bus service is made mandatory.
“In many families, both parents are employed. A safe school bus will free them from the hassle of picking and droping their children to schools,” he added.