Besides studies, Mumbai students brave obstacle courses on Bandra’s Manuel Gonsalves Road

Mumbai city news: There are five schools in a two-km radius on the road

Five schools in a 2-km radius, and an ever-growing number of cars, are making Bandra’s Manuel Gonsalves Road a nightmare for students, and their parents, who are now stepping in to handle the traffic mess

A traffic jam on the road on Monday. (HT)

Part of the problem, said schools, was that no police personnel are posted at the road. Anna Correa, the principal of St Stanislaus High School on Hill Road, said, “There are no police personnel, either at the Hill Road signal or on Manuel Gonsalves Road. Our parent volunteers are the ones helping students get to school safely.”

St Andrew’s High School said they had raised the issue with Bandra police, but so far no action has been taken.

Parents are also worried about children crossing this busy road.

“The school vans drop students on the other side of the road, so they have to cross to enter the school gate. With so many cars around, it is risky for younger kids,” said Mahek Lakdawalla, a homemaker.

Another parent, Imran Sheikh who has a child studying in St Andrew’s High School, said, “We have to deal with parking and traffic issues every day. Sometimes, we even end up fighting with parents from the other schools.”

To ease the situation, parents of St Andrew’s students asked the school to alter school timings a few years ago, so that it does not coincide with those of the neighbouring schools.

But this did not help much, as the road has heavy traffic.

For now, parents’ associations of the St Stanislaus High School and St Joseph’s Convent Primary School have designated parents volunteers who help the school staff to ensure the safety of students. Last year, the traffic department gave parent volunteers special jackets.

“We understand there is congestion in the locality during school hours. But we can’t install a signal on the road as it would only increase the jams. With so much traffic, it’s difficult for us to cater to everyone,” said Subhash Rane, sub-inspector, Bandra division. Other schools are trying to get parents to car-pool.

“If parents stop getting individual cars when they pick up or drop their children, it could help to a certain extent” said Michael Lopes, supervisor at St Andrew’s High School.