No maintenance: KU students, staffers complain campus buses are not kept well
The university administration fails to persuade drivers to bring buses on roads.
"This is tantamount to endangering lives and, in case of any mishap, we will be justified to hold the administration responsible," Asad Rashid, one of the student protesters. PHOTO: MOHAMAMD NOMAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Students and staffers of the University of Karachi (KU), took to the campus streets in separate protests on Thursday against the administration for its negligence in maintaining the fleet of 30 campus buses.
A group of students gathered at the campus bus terminal, waving placards and banners amid cries of ‘Students lives are in danger, have you no shame?’ and ‘We reject rules of injustice’.
Meanwhile, the university administration failed to persuade the drivers to bring the buses on the roads at noon as they refused to end the strike untill their demands were met. Subsequently, hundreds of students were seen walking their way through the campus towards the university exits in search of public transport.
“Over the decades, the buses have become completely worn-out and accident-prone but the university administration is not interested in spending on them,” said Asad Rashid, one of the student protesters. “This is tantamount to endangering the lives of the students and, in case of any mishap, we will be justified to hold the administration responsible.”
The students demanded the university spend adequately on the maintenance and expansion of what they termed an ‘exceedingly poor transportation system’ for students, faculty and staffers to carry them from the campus to a number of designated spots across the city.
Earlier, staffers at the KU transport department held a demonstration in front of the office of the department’s chairperson, Syed Muhammad Khalid.
“We will not ply the buses on the roads until the university resolves the issue of proper maintenance and provides adequate fuel,” said one of the drivers. “A number of buses are likely to cause an accident, any day any time,” he warned. “In case of any casualties, it is the drivers who are served as scapegoats for the administration’s negligence,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2014.
Students and staffers of the University of Karachi (KU), took to the campus streets in separate protests on Thursday against the administration for its negligence in maintaining the fleet of 30 campus buses.
A group of students gathered at the campus bus terminal, waving placards and banners amid cries of ‘Students lives are in danger, have you no shame?’ and ‘We reject rules of injustice’.
Meanwhile, the university administration failed to persuade the drivers to bring the buses on the roads at noon as they refused to end the strike untill their demands were met. Subsequently, hundreds of students were seen walking their way through the campus towards the university exits in search of public transport.
“Over the decades, the buses have become completely worn-out and accident-prone but the university administration is not interested in spending on them,” said Asad Rashid, one of the student protesters. “This is tantamount to endangering the lives of the students and, in case of any mishap, we will be justified to hold the administration responsible.”
The students demanded the university spend adequately on the maintenance and expansion of what they termed an ‘exceedingly poor transportation system’ for students, faculty and staffers to carry them from the campus to a number of designated spots across the city.
Earlier, staffers at the KU transport department held a demonstration in front of the office of the department’s chairperson, Syed Muhammad Khalid.
“We will not ply the buses on the roads until the university resolves the issue of proper maintenance and provides adequate fuel,” said one of the drivers. “A number of buses are likely to cause an accident, any day any time,” he warned. “In case of any casualties, it is the drivers who are served as scapegoats for the administration’s negligence,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2014.