KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode district administration on Monday launched a training programme for bus owners and employees in the district as part of the Savari Giri Giri project, which seeks to ensure journey with dignity for the student community.
The five-day training programme, organised at KDBOA Information Centre at New Bus Stand, mainly discussed the use of ticketing system with the help of ticket machines and the behavioral changes to be adopted by bus employees when dealing with school students.
It was in the wake of rising student complaints which included harsh treatment by bus employees that the District administration decided to the launch Savarigirigiri. Even though the project was launched in February, students were yet to be benefited with the project because of the delay in giving training to the bus employees.
“As per our plan, the deficit incurred by the bus operators by transporting excess number of students on concession will be distributed among the buses that ply services on a route and its process was explained to the bus employees,” said District Collector N. Prasanth.
“Our major aim is to promote pre- paid smart cards among students to pay their bus charge and the Cooperative bank will take the charge of distribution of the smart cards to the students.”
It was noted that many bus employees were showing reluctance in allowing students to travel in buses pointing out the financial losses. “We explained to them the use of smart cards and how it is going to benefit all,” Mr Prasanth said.
“This will help bus owners to share the amount deposited in a common account as per the number of students they accommodate.” The system is at present introduced within city limits and gradually will be spread to rural areas.
