and curtail rash driving on the college campus, the Manipal

Institute of Technology (MIT) has made it mandatory for the first

year degree students to use bicycles which will be provided free of

cost to them.

Institute Joint Director Dr P K A Muniswaran, incharge of

discipline and student affairs, said rash driving by students on

the college campus was leading to major accidents and at least two

cases were reported every year.

To bring down the accident rate and maintain pollution-free

environment at least inside the campus, the management had also

banned the use of motorcycle and four wheelers by first year

students. Senior students have been allowed to use their vehicles

outside the demarked area. However, they have been prohibited from

bringing it inside the college campus.

Mr Muniswaran said that the Institute would buy

1,500 cycles from Hercules Cycles at the cost of Rs 30 lakh, to

distribute to the first year students residing in college hostels.

After completion of studies, they were free to take the bicycles

home, he added.

Claiming that this was a first of its kind initiative in the

country, he said that in the next four years, the entire student

community would have to use only bicycles, with a total ban on

two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Mr Muniswaran said day scholars using two or four wheelers should

take prior permission from the management and use college stickers

on their vehicles to enter the college premises.

He said the management had also strictly banned the use of mobile

phones inside the classrooms. Strict vigil was maintained and a

first time offender would be fined Rs 500. If the offence was

repeated, the mobile would be seized and the parent of the student

had to approach the management personally for recovering the set, he

added.