Buses, cars parked near Indiranagar school choke traffic

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

The parking of school buses of National Public School on Indiranagar 13th Main Road and nearby lanes is choking the traffic movement in the area. It is a narrow road and hence on school working days, the motorists have little room to manoeuvre as school buses and private vehicles are haphazardly scattered in the vicinity.

Residents have complained of extreme traffic congestion during the opening and closing hours of schools, along with noise and air pollution. Shiv, a citizen activist from Domlur, who has been vocal about the issue, said he has been requesting the authorities to take action against the school for the past 6-7 years.

“They have now devised a plan to appoint wardens. Citizens who are interested in doing the voluntary work of managing the traffic will be trained and stationed at the area for about three hours,” Shiv said, hoping that it might resolve the issue. He suggested that the school must allow the buses to be parked inside the premises, on the playground to ease the traffic issue.

“The buses are parked for at least four hours, from when the school commences each day, during the peak hours. It not only disrupts traffic, but also causes conflict among motorists. The drivers and parents tell us to take a different road,” he said. Residents have also urged the authorities to make sure the pickup and drop off of children takes place inside the premises itself.

If this is not a feasible solution, they have requested for the school to rent out a parking space nearby for their buses. Sneha Nandihal, co-founder of I Change Indiranagar, a federation of RWAs in Indiranagar said that they have filed a formal complaint against the school regarding the same.

“Each parent brings their massive car and leisurely parks it by the road with the indicator on. There are no other alternative roads for me to make a switch, thereby increasing my travel time,” said Abhinav Bhargav, a commuter who has to travel through the road frequently.

“To circumvent the congestion, many two wheelers and cyclists tend to hop on the footpath and cause disruption to daily walkers like me,” said a pedestrian who wished to not be named.