After two years of deliberation, Panjab University to finally become no-vehicle zone
University to table blueprint on removing traffic congestion at syndicate meeting tomorrow, no outsider vehicle policy on the agenda
After two years of collecting feedback of students, Panjab University (PU) has finally come up with a blueprint for decongestion of the Sector-14 campus, under which no outside vehicle will be allowed in the campus.
The blueprint, finalised by a committee headed by chief of university security prof Ashwani Koul, will be tabled at the syndicate meeting scheduled for May 28.
STUDENTS’ DEMAND HEARD
In 2015, PU student elections, a majority of students had voted for not allowing students’ four-wheelers in academic zones in Sector-14 and Sector-25 campuses.
While as many as 3,315 students (53.2%) had voted in favour of the motion for Sector-14 campus, 2,916 (46.2%) were against it. For Sector-25 campus, as many as 3,200 students (51.3%) had voted in favour of the motion, 3,034 (48.7%) were against it.
BLUEPRINT AT A GLANCE
There will be boom barriers at five places and check gates at four places. The academic area will be duly cordoned off for the vehicles which do not have varsity’s parking stickers. If such vehicles are found parked in the area, they will be towed away.
The stickers issued to the teaching and non-teaching staff and students will be issued afresh with colour codes, and the old ones will be cancelled. The requirement of stickers for students has to be duly recommended by the chairperson of the department concerned.
VIOLATIONS TO ATTRACT PENALTY
Overspeeding, honking of horns, use of bikes without mufflers, vehicle without sticker and parking of vehicles in no-parking areas will be dealt with penalty. Initially, the fine could be of Rs 100, but it is yet to be finalised. The challan will be sent to the defaulter’s department with a copy to dean students’ welfare.
SECURITY AT THE FOREFRONT
Adequate powers be given to security personnel to stop the vehicles for checking and issuing challans. For passing-out students, a three-member committee of security personnel to issue NOC will be formed.
The traffic staff and security personnel will have colourcoded uniforms. Volunteer traffic marshals from teaching and non-teaching staff will be appointed.
The wardens will be asked to provide details for vehicles to the security office, which will maintain the record of vehicles on a computer.
The DUI will issue instructions that newly-admitted students will not be allowed to come to the department in a fourwheeler from the commencement of academic session in August. Only two-wheelers and cycles will be allowed. Parking area will be earmarked for teachers, non-teaching staff and students of the departments.
The executive engineer will get the parking area marked with a white line. Parking will be allowed only on one side of the roads through the varsity. As of now, people on campus are parking on both sides of the roads.
WHAT ABOUT GUESTS?
The blueprint mandates prior intimation on phone about the visit of guests to the security office by the residents of the campus.
The security staff on duty on entry gate will facilitate entry after due verification by issuing a temporary pass.
Similarly, anybody coming to the university for attending any function will have to provide prior information to the security office to facilitate his/her entry on campus by getting issued a temporary pass from the security staff on duty on gate.