Sat Sep 20 15:09:05 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai, India, has launched a dedicated bus service (S78) exclusively for female students with hearing and speech impairments attending St. Louis College for the Deaf in Adyar. This service addresses the safety and convenience concerns these students faced previously when relying on public transportation, particularly the challenges of crossing busy roads and the infrequent and often crowded route 5E bus. The initiative was spurred by a representation from the management of Guidance Home for Adult Deaf Girls, the students’ hostel, highlighting the difficulties the students experienced during their daily commute. The dedicated bus ensures a safe and reliable journey for the students, who come from various parts of Tamil Nadu and other states to pursue higher education.

**News Article:**

**Chennai MTC Launches Exclusive Bus Service for Deaf Students, Ensuring Safer Commute**

**Chennai, September 20, 2025** – The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has introduced a new, dedicated bus service specifically for female students with hearing and speech impairments attending St. Louis College for the Deaf in Adyar, Chennai. The initiative, launched on September 11th, 2025, aims to address the safety concerns and logistical challenges these students previously faced while commuting to and from their hostel near Ashok Pillar.

The new service, designated route S78, operates exclusively for the students, providing a direct and reliable connection between their hostel and the college campus. The bus arrives at the hostel at 7:15 a.m. to transport the students to college and picks them up again at 2:00 p.m. for the return journey.

Prior to this initiative, the students relied on the frequently delayed and overcrowded route 5E bus, which required them to navigate a busy intersection on 100 Feet Road in Ashok Nagar. This posed a significant safety risk, particularly due to their hearing impairments, making it difficult to hear oncoming traffic.

“Crossing the road is their biggest challenge, especially the busy 100-feet road,” explained Sister Josephine, in-charge of Guidance Home for Adult Deaf Girls. “As the frequency of the buses on this route is low, students would rush to catch the bus that comes to the stop around 7 a.m. They cannot hear the honking of buses and the drivers do not know these students are hearing-impaired and they get scolded.”

The new bus service was implemented following a representation made by the hostel management to MTC Managing Director T. Prabhushankar, highlighting these difficulties. The move has been widely welcomed by both the hostel and college administration, who emphasize the importance of ensuring a safe and hassle-free commute for their students, many of whom travel from other districts of Tamil Nadu and even other states to pursue their education at St. Louis College for the Deaf.

“Currently, we have a strength of 258 students, a majority being boys,” said Principal S. Pannerselvam. “This service ensures the female students are safe.”

MTC staff confirmed that the bus is strictly dedicated to the students and cannot pick up other passengers en route. After completing its designated runs for the students, the bus operates as route number S26 between Ashok Pillar and Valsarvakkam. The college management provides a signature with seal on every trip.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in ensuring accessible and safe transportation for students with disabilities in Chennai.

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