Ludhiana: Angry over the ban on entry of four-wheelers inside the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), more than 1,000 students protested against the authorities at gate No.2. Lodging a protest, furious students said if they were not allowed to enter the PAU campus on four-wheelers, then no outsider would be allowed as well. They all gathered at MS Randhawa Library and started marching towards gate No.2 to check the entry of outsiders at the campus. They also raised slogans like Tanashahi nahin chalegi.Gurmaninder Singh, College of Basic Sciences, said: “To have views of students about the issue, College of Agriculture organized a mock parliament on ‘Use of motor vehicles in the campus of educational institutions’ at PAU on August 8, but now 12 days later, they still have not found any permanent solution.”Adesh Gill, a student from College of Agriculture, said: “I travel from Doraha, which is 20km away from Ludhiana. I park my car at the entry gate, but there is no proper car parking at gate No.2.” Navneet Singh, another student, said: “They have just started 2 e-rickshaws and two buses to ferry students. There is only a five-minute time between two lectures, so reaching our destination is not possible without motor vehicles in a limited time frame. They are not focussing on alternate solutions. Banning cars without an alternate solution is not the correct solution to the problem.”Guneet Kaur, journalism and mass communication student, said: “Students claimed that the use of e-rickshaws in the university will add to the expenses of students, and in case of medical emergency, our own vehicle can act as an advantage in such a sensitive issue, rather than waiting for an ambulance to arrive. The public transport system is not sufficient enough in the university for us to be dependent on it.”PAU vice-chancellor Baldev Singh Dhillon said: “We will introduce more buses and e-rickshaws for the convenience of students within a few months. Besides, the car park for students at gate No.2 is also being renovated.”STUDENT DEMANDSCollege students have given a memorandum to the university’s estate officer, seeking to bring changes in the transport system of the campus. Their demands are:* A gate pass should be issued to students on their four-wheelers, as there are only 35-40 cars of students, and if any student is found roaming unnecessarily in the campus, they are liable for action. Along with it, their use should be restricted only to the field area and residential area. This will create uniformity in the implementation of the order, and even eliminate the entry of VIPs who use their influence to enter PAU.* Need to decide a feasible alternative to the problem.* Facilities of sufficient e-rickshaws in the university before implementation of the ban.* Facility of renting bicycles at various focal points of the university, and presence of proper cycling tracks in the university campus.* Proper cycle stands should be made in all the hostels and outside the departments.* There should be strict action against outsiders coming to the university and creating traffic jams, and strict action should also be taken against security people allowing outsiders into the campus.* Four-wheelers should also be banned for faculty members residing inside the campus itself, and the same applies for students, with the exception of old and disabled people, and emergency situations.PLEA FOR CARSAmandeep Singh Cheema, a student of MBA first year“Protest is the only solution, as they are not paying any heed towards a permanent solution. Earlier, the canteens used to open only at 11am, but students who came from far faced a problem as a result. Not only this, there are other issues of water supply in hostel No.2, 3, and 15, and poor infrastructure in hostels.”Amandeep Kaur, Chandigarh Road“I come on four-wheelers to the university, and four-wheelers are more advantageous for safe transport. But ever since the ban, I am commuting on two-wheelers, and yesterday (Monday) due to rain, my laptop got wet, as I was waiting for a rickshaw for 15 minutes.”Binaypratap Singh Sekhon“I am a state-level basketball player. I got an injury, and the doctor advised me to to commute on four-wheelers. I have run from pillar to post to get a handicapped certificate, but the authorities are turning a blind eye to the problems of students.”

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