Students coming to Kota for coaching want improvement in infrastructure in the city to make their life easier.

Around 1.50 lakh students from all over the country come to Kota to take coaching for medical and engineering entrance examinations.

While going to coaching institutes or returning home every day, students can be seen putting their lives at risk during crossing the National Highway no 52 (Kota-Jhalawar NH) in Kota along a famous coaching institute.

“We have to remain extra cautious while crossing the busy road to avoid accidents; there should be a foot over-bridge or flyover on the Jhalawar road near the City mall in Kota,” said Amit Sharma (18), a coaching aspirant.

Hundreds of coaching students cross busy roads every day to reach their coaching institutes in the city.

“Development of infrastructure in the coaching areas is done as per the requirement,” said Bhawani Singh Palawat, secretary of the Urban Improvement Trust, Kota. “Survey for an over-bridge construction on Jhalawar road near a coaching institute is underway.”

A flyover is under construction at the Modi college road in Kota, which would ease traffic congestion near a coaching institute in Jawahar Nagar.

RK Verma, director of the Resonance Coaching Institute, said, “Certainly there should be construction of either foot over-bridges or underpasses near coaching zones to facilitate risk-free movement of students.”

Coaching students also point out lack of recreational facilities like parks and playgrounds in Kota. “The schedule of coaching classes remains hectic, so there should be playgrounds and more parks near coaching zones for our recreation,” said Anindo Das (18), a student.

Rajesh Maheshwari, director of Allen Career Institute, said, “There are parks and playgrounds in the coaching zones but their number is not sufficient to cater to the coaching student population.”

Amid incidents of depression and suicides, experts say there should be dedicated government counselling centres for coaching students.

Dr ML Agarwal, a psychiatrist, said, “The state government should establish a dedicated counselling centre for coaching students in Kota as it earns revenue in the form of tax on fees.”

First Published: May 21, 2019 12:42 IST