PU ban on outsiders’ vehicles losing steam

Chaos outside gates during checks hindering execution of plan

The implementation of Panjab University’s ban on outsiders’ vehicles has fizzled out primarily due to manpower shortage and the traffic chaos it is causing on the roads near the three entrance gates of the varsity.

The ban that came into force on April 18 is also leading to chaos on the roads leading to the entry gates. (HT photo)

The ban that came into force on Monday (April 18) is also leading to chaos on the roads leading to the entry gates due to the checks that each car is subjected to.

Only notices, no action

At all three entrance gates, notices have been displayed that students who do not have official stickers on their vehicles would not be allowed in, but most are asked to enter without question. It was only on Tuesday, the day 2 of the ban, that some were asked to park their vehicles in the parking zone. These students then also used the shuttle services started on Tuesday.

Official take

Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Professor Navdeep Goyal said, “The ban is not being implemented fully due to the lack of manpower. Yet, the number of vehicles on campus has come down by 25%.” He added that directions had been issued to all wardens to keep a strict check on the vehicles being parked regularly in the hostel parking without any registration.

PU registrar Col GS Chadha (retd) said, “We are trying our best to implement the restrictions on entry of outsider vehicles. Additional parking areas are also planned. We are also mulling the introduction of e-rickshaws for the convenience of passengers and coming up with a separate entry and exit points at gate number 3, which is usually choked due to traffic.”

Other PU initiatives that fell flat

Vehicle-free zone on campus: In 2013, it was planned to make the area from Gandhi Bhawan till the Arts block 3 and 4 as vehicle-free zone. There was no popular support to the move

Cycling on campus: In 2007, 15 cycles were donated to the PU officials to promote cycling, but the movement could never take a mass form. The first Monday of the month was to be meant only for cycling. Loans were also made available to buy cycles, but the response remained tepid.