Bengaluru: The students of various colleges across Karnataka will soon be asked to leave their vehicles at home and use college and government transportation. The state government is planning to ban students from getting their own vehicles to the college campus. And this decision is taken with an aim to promote public transport.
 
This proposal would be discussed by Karnataka's higher education minister GT Devegowda with college managements soon. And, he is also seeking to address the increasing levels of pollution, and accident rates in the state. The meeting regarding this would be held with all state universities' vice-Chancellors.
 
Speaking to MyNation, BJP MLA CN Ashwathnarayan said, "Unless we have effective and sound public transportation system, this cannot be done. The government has got no rights to do this unless the entire society is convinced about the excellent transportation system before getting into all these issues. It is too premature on the part of the higher education minister to decide on this. It is such a foolish act.”
 
Ashwathnarayan further said, “There are many government colleges that have no buildings, and the government is not looking at the poor administration. Remarks like, 'pollution will affect the environment' is not a fashion statement. First the public transportation should be revamped. It is good to preach and not to practice.”
 
GT Devegowda is planning to approach all the universities in the state and request the management not to provide parking space for students on campus and make public transport or college transportation mandatory. He will also be seeking the administration to make students submit an undertaking during the admission stating that they are willing to not bring their private vehicles into the campus and that they'd surrender their driving license during the admission.