Kollapadakal Villagers Raise Rs 50 Lakh To Buy School Buses For Govt Students

In a community-led effort to boost local education, residents of Kollapadakal village in Maheshwaram mandal of Ranga Reddy district raised Rs 50 lakh to procure two school buses for the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS). The free bus services, which commenced operations on June 30, have successfully driven up enrolment at the government school by nearly 100 students during the ongoing admission season.

Led by Kollapadakal village sarpanch Chepangi Praveen, the fundraising initiative brought together contributions from local villagers, private companies, and sarpanches of neighboring villages. The two buses now provide free transportation to students traveling from eight neighboring villages, offering a reliable alternative to expensive private schools.

Students from villages such as Subhanpur, Dubbacherla, Dilwarguda, Akanpally, and Gattupalli travel between 3 km and 6 km to attend the English-medium government school. Previously, many parents opted for private schools in the mandal, paying annual fees of nearly Rs 50,000, due to a lack of reliable public transport.

"Both the buses have started ferrying students from June 30. We are sending a bus to a village even if there is only one student," Kollapadakal sarpanch Chepangi Praveen said.

Local parents expressed relief over the new service. Javeed Ali of Dubbacherla village, whose daughter is in Class 7, noted that students previously faced long commutes waiting for delayed RTC buses, but can now board the school bus directly from their village.

Another parent, P Hanumanthu, a farm worker whose daughter is in Class 9, highlighted the safety benefits. He explained that a lake between his village and Kollapadakal often flooded during heavy rains, forcing children to skip school or risk injury. The bus service has now ensured safe and regular attendance.

According to villager N Narsimha, the initiative originally began with a rented bus in 2025, which increased enrolment by about 40 students but cost nearly Rs 1 lakh per month in rent, fuel, and salaries. To make the project sustainable, residents approached private companies to donate the two new buses. Sarpanches from Dubbacherla and SB Palli also provided financial support.

While the vehicles were secured through donations, the villagers continue to fund recurring operational costs, including fuel, maintenance, and staff salaries. They are currently seeking long-term donors to help sustain the free transport initiative.