COIMBATORE: Across the state, time and again, private bus operators hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons; for rash driving, over-speeding, violating traffic rules, skipping bus stops to make up for time lost in traffic jam and the violations courtesy private bus drivers and crew are many-a-plenty.
However, the owners of ‘Vijay Bus Transports’, a private bus operator in Coimbatore have turned Good Samaritan for the society and savors for school going children in the cotton city. The company which operates five busses across multiple routes in the textile city has recently announced that it will charge just Rs 5 from school going children on all the five buses it operates both ways (commuting to the school and returning home), regardless of the distance (school children) travel.
Speaking to DC about the new initiative, L Venkatesh, one of the partners of the company calling it a one-of-its-kind scheme introduced in the state said, “I am saddened to see how school children taking advantage of the free bus pass issued travel on footboard of public transport. This prompted me to introduce a scheme that will help children travel safely without burning a hole in their pocket. Thus, the Rs 5 ticket scheme was introduced. Never mind if the company does not gain out of it,” he said.
Introduced about ten days ago, the scheme already has many takers. One of the partners of the private transport operator admits that the company is not making any profit out of the initiative. “Profit is not the motive here. With diesel price hitting the roof, we are at a huge loss. However, priority is safety of children and the intention is to give back to the society.” Venkatesh said. He is hopeful that other private operators also start a scheme for school children.
The 10-day-old scheme already has many takers. Prior to introduction of the scheme, just 20 school going children travelled on the five busses owned and operated by the company. However, as news about the initiative spread, primarily through word-of-mouth, several school children are already taking advantage of the same. One of the bus drivers of the company shares with DC that as many as 100 school children travel on school days across the various routes.
Founded by N G Palaniswmay, a first generation entrepreneur of the family, Venkatesh admits that for the first time the company has taken the bold step in slashing cost of ticket for school going children. “Seeing the kids travel to school and back home safely and economically fills our heart.” Venkatesh ends
