Around 3,000 school buses in neighbouring Gurgaon and Noida will be off roads during the Commonwealth Games to overcome traffic congestion and allow smooth movement to tourists to the Games venues. The schools falling in the main city areas will be closed, while those in the outer areas will be spared.
A decision to shut down the schools and colleges in the city during the event has already been taken.
“The schools which will be closed during the 12 days of the mega-event are mostly government and some public schools,” said a Delhi government official.
The official added that the closing of schools is an important step to control traffic during the Games. “So far, we have information that tourists are likely to stay in Gurgaon and Noida-based guest houses and hotels,” added the official.
The city government officials have also said that many athletes, who will be participating in the Games, are also likely to visit Gurgaon and Noida in their free time.
While in Delhi, the city government has already ordered schools to remain closed for 12 days during the Games. The decision was taken by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit after a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
The Delhi government has also sent an advisory to the Delhi schools, both government and private, to reschedule school holidays for the 2010-11 academic year keeping in view the Commonwealth Games which will take place in October.
The chief minister had earlier said that the schools will be closed for a smooth hosting of the Games. Meanwhile, the Delhi government officials have also confirmed that these schools have been asked to extend their autumn break from eight to 17 days while summer vacations have been reduced from 61 to 49 days.
The Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon schools have officially declared autumn break from October 1 to October 17, confirmed the officials.