PEC all set to go vehicle-free

The PEC University of Technology is all set to implement the first phase of its plan to make the campus vehicle-free. The institute had planned to go vehicle-free in considered phases, after a student was run over by a vehicle last year.

The PEC University of Technology is all set to implement the first phase of its plan to make the campus vehicle-free. The institute had planned to go vehicle-free in considered phases, after a student was run over by a vehicle last year.

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According to university authorities, 40 students, 10 faculty members and 60 people from the maintenance, security and workshop staff worked during the weekend to ensure that the launch date was met. “It is a unique project initiated by the students, following a fatal accident on the campus last semester. We hope that the measures will be implemented in a gradual manner so that faculty, staff and students are not put to inconvenience,” said director of the institute Prof Manoj Datta. “The progress will be closely monitored during the first week for a smooth transition from the existing system to the new one, with students and faculty acting as facilitators,” he added.

In the first phase three roads would be partly freed of vehicular traffic; two major parking areas would be created for students -- one for two-wheelers and the other for four-wheelers. The two-wheelers parking for students has been created along the boundary wall of the institute, between gate number-1 and 2. For this purpose, all two-wheelers of students would move in and out of the campus through gate number-1 only.

The student parking would remain operational from 7am to 5.30pm on working days. After 5.30pm the students would be able to park their vehicles at other parking areas also.

To begin with, the parking would be free. Two security guards at each of the parking would help in parking vehicles in an orderly fashion. Paid parking is likely to begin in Phase 2.

For those students whose parents come to pick or drop them, a point has been designated near gate number-2 on the main road. Students have been informed about this through a circular.

Proper signboards with relevant information have been put up at strategic locations so as to avoid any confusion and inconvenience. Meanwhile, parking of vehicles at undesignated locations has been disallowed.

As of now, parking of vehicles inside hostel premises has been allowed for residents only. Accordingly, hostellers would not be allowed to take their vehicles to the campus. However, they would be allowed to use bicycles within the campus.

A traffic management committee, comprising eight officials, and a students' traffic management committee, comprising of and 27 student volunteers, respectively, has been notified to help implement this phase in a gradual manner.