To prevent the rising number of accidents near schools, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to erect railings outside all school buildings in the city. The move is expected to prevent accidents outside schools, said civic officials.
According to the civic officials, the decision has been taken as per the instructions of an empowered committee chaired by the chief secretary. The issue of accidents outside schools was raised at the empowered committee, which directed the civic body to put up railings outside schools as a precautionary measure.
A civic official said, “There have been complaints of accidents happening outside schools due to rash driving and violation of traffic rules. Recently, a school student in Churchgate was run over by a speeding bike and severely injured. The railing will act as a barricade between the school gate and the main road and it will prevent school kids from going out.”
Apart from the railings, the BMC will also be installing speed breakers outside schools to control the speed of the approaching vehicles. In addition to this, the BMC has also decided to colour coordinate the footpath and the railings. “This will enable the motorists to know that there is a school in the vicinity and they should control their speed,” said the official.
The civic body has decided to implement the school railings project in the island city first. The estimated cost of the project is `18 crore. The total cost of the entire project, including the suburbs, is expected to be around `50 crore. Tenders for the suburbs will be invited after monsoons.
“The BMC is also going to provide ramps at the footpath for the disabled. People on wheelchairs can get on and off a pavement,” the official said.