Shillong: In view of the increasing demand for their services, the Meghalaya government is planning to roll out an additional 30 State Transport for Efficient Mobility Society or STEMS buses for school-going children this year.
Director of School Education & Literacy Swapnil Tembe said the STEMS team has informed that approximately 30 more buses will be introduced to meet the increasing demand for their services.
According to the Meghalaya government, the introduction of STEMS buses for school-going children has significantly reduced traffic congestion in the city.
The initiative has resulted in the removal of approximately 900 private vehicles from Shillong’s roads.
“Each bus accommodates 30 students, meaning 30 fewer private vehicles on the road. With 60 such buses in operation, the number of vehicles on the road will be reduced by around 1,800,” Tembe explained.
“One of the key advantages of the STEMS buses is the convenience and security they provide. Once students disembark, they are safely guided to their schools, and parents receive real-time notifications on their mobile phones,” he added.
He stated, “We’ve even received requests from Jowai and Tura to extend similar student bus services to those areas. This has prompted the government to consider extending the initiative beyond Shillong.”
The 30 buses launched last year by the state government saw a poor response despite various initiatives taken by the STEMS team.
Although the service has been successful, narrow school routes pose a logistical challenge, preventing access to full-sized buses. To address this, the department is exploring the use of vans or minibusses.
Another major hurdle is the lack of adequate parking spaces for the buses. However, Tembe assured that the state government is actively working on solutions to mitigate these issues.
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“The safety of the students is our top priority, and we have ensured that the buses are completely secure. This has led to increased demand for more such buses in Shillong and other parts of the state,” he added.
The director appealed to parents to prioritize student safety by using the bus service, which also helps alleviate traffic congestion.
