Nashik Municipal Corporation MC 30 ‘safe school zones’ to improve student safety across city

Nashik: In a bid to enhance student safety, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has planned to develop 30 safe school zones near schools across the city. The initiative will focus on regulating vehicular movement, reducing traffic speed, and improving pedestrian infrastructure.According to civic officials, the initiative is aimed at minimising accident risks, and encouraging safer commuting practices, including walking and cycling, for school students across Nashik.The first zone is being developed near Kilbil School on Gangapur Road, expected to be ready within the next three to four days, connecting Gangapur Road and College Road. This stretch has multiple educational institutions, making it a priority area due to heavy traffic movement during school hours.A safe school zone is a designated area around schools, where measures are taken to protect students, especially during peak hours. These measures also include installation of signage and restrictions on heavy vehicles. As part of the initiative, NMC will introduce several traffic management measures, including speed breakers and speed tables to slow down vehicles.Footpaths are being developed to ensure that children can walk safely, and traffic bollards have also been installed along footpaths to prevent encroachments, and ensure a dedicated pedestrian space around school premises.

“We are focusing on areas with high traffic congestion during school entry and exit hours. Measures such as speed calming, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and designated drop-off points are being implemented to improve safety,” a senior NMC official said.The civic body has earmarked specific parking spaces for school buses, vans and private vehicles that are used to transport students for better traffic discipline around school premises.Additionally, the NMC, in coordination with the traffic police, will conduct training programmes for school van and autorickshaw drivers. Wearing uniforms will be made mandatory for drivers to improve identification and accountability.“Special training will be provided to school transport drivers to ensure discipline and adherence to safety norms,” the official added.The project also includes aesthetic improvements like painting of school boundary walls, and installation of proper signages to create visually distinct safe zones around educational institutions, reinforcing traffic regulation in these areas.Officials said similar safe school zones will be developed at nearly 30 locations across the city in a phased manner, based on traffic conditions and the presence of multiple schools in an area.Beyond traffic management, such zones may also incorporate better lighting, surveillance systems and community awareness to create a child-friendly environment.