OVERCROWDED university buses are a source ofnuisanceforthousands of students in Rawalpindi. Those in remote regions have to wait in line every morning to board the already full buses. Most students travel in precarious conditions, putting their lives and health at risk just to arrive at their universities on time.
According to reports, over 60 per cent university students commute using these buses, but there is no effective mechanism to check whether or not there are enough buses for the purpose. Girls are made to feeluneasy and are often harassed in these crowded buses. Most parents are reluctant to send their daughters to universities for this very reason. Those who can afford it, pick and drop their daughters and sisters themselves.
Besides affecting punctuality and attendance, the congestion inside these buses endangers the physical and mental health of students. The relevant authorities as well as university administrations should ensure the provision of adequate number of buses, and their regular maintenance. Besides, some sort of seat reservation system may be introduced in order to regulate crowding.
Learnersneed safe,convenient and efficient transportation to be able to concentrate on their education. The struggle to occupy bare minimum space drains their energy before they even reach their classrooms. Let us not make our students choose between their safety and education.
