The Tamil Nadu government has introduced 50 dedicated buses for students from 25 government and aided schools in Chennai, aiming to provide safer and less crowded travel during peak school hours. The buses are unique in that they are authorised to enter school campuses to drop and pick up students, a first in the city’s public transport system.
Launched by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the initiative also includes providing free bus passes to over 35 lakh students statewide for the academic year 2025-26. The step addresses a pressing demand from parents and school authorities to curb overcrowding and unsafe travel conditions encountered in regular public buses.
Dedicated School Bus Routes: A Move for Student Safety and Comfort
The 50 new buses will operate on exclusive routes during school start and end times, with limited stops only at fixed points to pick up and drop off students. Unlike conventional buses, these will directly access school gates, ensuring that students don’t have to struggle for space or wait at busy bus stops. This initiative aims to eliminate the dangerous practice of “footboarding” where students travel on bus footboards due to overcrowding. T Prabhushankar, Managing Director of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), explained that the selected routes and fleet size were determined based on student numbers and areas with the highest demand.
The Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the service at Lady Wellington Government Model Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Triplicane, highlighting the government’s focus on student welfare. “Providing safe and comfortable transport for students is essential to improving attendance and learning outcomes,” said Udhayanidhi Stalin. Parents and students have welcomed the move, noting the pressure and anxiety caused by packed buses during morning and evening commutes. A student from one of the beneficiary schools shared that the new bus service “makes my daily travel safer and less stressful, especially with the heavy schoolbags.”
A Response to Longstanding Transportation Challenges
The introduction of these student-only buses comes after years of appeals from parents, school officials, and education activists who highlighted the hazardous conditions students face on public transport, especially during peak hours. Incidents involving students travelling on bus footboards or being left behind due to overcrowding increased public pressure for reform.
Last year, many school principals in Chennai petitioned the state government, urging the launch of dedicated school bus services to reduce absenteeism and improve student safety. Alongside the introduction of these buses, the government has expanded free bus pass distribution, with over 4.1 lakh students in Chennai now holding passes for the current academic year. This comprehensive approach seeks to remove financial barriers and logistical challenges to attending school regularly. Government officials have suggested that, depending on feedback and operational success, similar services could soon be rolled out in other districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This development marks a vital victory for student safety and access to education, showing how targeted public transport measures can make a powerful social impact. By prioritising young commuters, the Tamil Nadu government demonstrates an empathetic and practical approach to a problem that directly affects school attendance and overall child welfare.
Still, this scheme should be seen as one step toward a broader goal: a public transport ecosystem that serves all citizens with dignity, safety, and reliability. Overcrowding, route planning, and vehicle condition remain ongoing challenges in many Indian cities that must be addressed through sustained investment and community engagement.
As we acknowledge this positive move, The Logical Indian encourages readers to reflect on the collective responsibility to support inclusive and safe public transport.
