Free bus service for school, college students: Tamil Nadu government

Announcing the decision, transport minister R S Rajakannappan said, until free bus passes are printed and distributed, students with uniforms can present their ID cards with photos to the bus conductors.

Tamil Nadu School Reopening: Ahead of the reopening of academic institutions, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to give free bus facility to school and college students from September 1. Announcing the decision, transport minister R S Rajakannappan said, until free bus passes are printed and distributed, students with uniforms can present their ID cards with photos to the bus conductors. The same exemption applies to government ITI and polytechnic students. While the government has already decided to reopen schools and colleges from September 1, various rumors about the extension of online classes are still making rounds on the different networks.

However, the State government has decided to go ahead with its earlier decision to reopen all schools and colleges after Chief Minister MK Stalin held a discussion with health and education department officials at the Secretariat. While it has been decided that the state would extend lockdown until September 15, the minister clarified that hostels of all government and private-run schools, as well as colleges, would be allowed to function. The colleges have also received instructions from the government to ensure that students from Kerala are fully vaccinated and have RT-PCR test certificates.

The government has also permitted working men's and women’s hostels to reopen by adhering to SOPs. “Parents and teachers must ensure that social distancing and other safety guidelines are complied with,” the CM said. The decision to provide a free bus facility has been taken to facilitate easy movement of students. Students must wear uniforms and carry their ID cards. Access to all beaches on Sundays and to all temples from Friday to Sunday has been banned in order to control the pandemic situation in the state.

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