Gridlock likely to hit school zones due to the implementation of GO
As per recent orders by the Telangana government, all primary schools are to begin classes at 9 am and finish by 4 pm while upper primary and high schools are to begin classes by 9 am and finish by 4.30 pm. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: While schools are starting to adopt the new timings recently stipulated by the Telangana government, the uniform timings are raising questions about the consequent impact on traffic in areas like Abids, Ameerpet, Jubilee Hills etc.
The traffic police had earlier put in place a staggered timing system wherein schools were to start and finish within 10 to 15 minutes of each other, allowing some grace period to clear traffic. However, that system has now been abolished.
As per recent orders by the Telangana government, all primary schools are to begin classes at 9 am and finish by 4 pm while upper primary and high schools are to begin classes by 9 am and finish by 4.30 pm.
Majority of schools will be adopting the new timings from Monday and the parents are concerned about the traffic. “Even with staggered timings, there were always traffic snarls. But it was better because all schools wouldn’t release at the same time. Now again, we have to struggle through traffic,” said I. Nageswara Rao, a parent.
Officials, however, say that the new timings won’t create much of a problem since school traffic would clear out by 9 am leaving the roads free for office-goers. “The government has issued an order and we have to follow it. Earlier schools timings coincided with office timings so there was a lot of stress,” a senior education department official said.
Areas most affectd with will be Abids, Mehdipatnam, Secunderabad and Trimulgherry since they have the maximum number of schools. Hyderabad has an excess of 3,000 schools with over 11 lakh students.
Schools in Hyderabad have asked the traffic police and the government to allow staggered timings to avoid traffic congestion due to the new timings and the Hyderabad traffic police has, in turn, asked the schools for suggestions to deal with the traffic.
“We have taken note of the GO on the new school timings. We have asked for the schools’ response on this issue and we will see what can be done,” a senior police official said.
Schools have asked for the staggered timings to be reinstated though the number of working hours may remain the same. The High Court had earlier directed the state to implement timings in accordance to the Right to Education Act. But schools say that uniform timings may lead to rise to traffic issues.
S. Srinivasa Reddy, president of Telangana Private School Managements Association, said, “There will definitely be traffic problems due to the new timings particularly in areas like Abids where a large number of schools function. We have asked the traffic police to allow staggered timings.”
The government has mandated that high schools have nine periods with two short breaks and a lunch break. Upper primary and primary schools will have eight periods with same breaks.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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