In a city where school journeys can stretch beyond two hours due to chronic traffic congestion, a private school in Bengaluru has introduced an India-first solution to safeguard student comfort and wellbeing. Indus International School on Sarjapur Road has installed bio-toilets inside select school buses, aiming to reduce stress and health risks faced by children during prolonged daily commutes.

The move directly responds to Bengaluru’s traffic woes, a persistent concern for parents and students travelling long distances across the tech capital.

Traffic delays prompt rethink of school transport

Students of Indus International School travel from different parts of the city and often spend extended hours stuck in gridlocks. Parents and students raised concerns over anxiety, discomfort and health issues caused by the lack of toilet access during long journeys.

Explaining the thinking behind the decision, Vinod, Director for Administration at Indus International School, said:

"Knowing Bangalore traffic – some of our buses travel two hours, two and half hours every day, every trip. So which means students feel a lot of discomfort, there's a sense of stress in them, anxiety, especially if they're stuck in traffic."

He added that simply knowing a toilet is available helps students remain calm and avoid unsafe roadside stops.

Two long-route buses fitted with bio-toilets

So far, two buses operating on the school’s longest routes have been redesigned. These buses serve areas such as Rajajinagar and Yeshwantpur, where one-way travel can take at least two hours and, on heavily congested days, extend to two and a half hours.

Earlier, students were often forced to hold their needs for long periods or depend on drivers stopping at roadside restaurants or unfamiliar locations, raising concerns around safety, hygiene and dignity, especially for younger children.

Special fabrication and installation process

No school bus manufacturer currently offers in-built bio-toilets. To address this, the school partnered with a specialised fabricator experienced in installing bio-toilet systems. A Chennai-based agency supported the installation, using a decomposition system based on high-grade bacteria.

The installation took around 10 days per bus, with each bio-toilet costing approximately Rs 5 lakh. To accommodate the facility, seating capacity in the modified buses was reduced from 35 to 31 seats.

Manoj Padikal, CEO of Padikal Travels Private Limited, which operates bus services for the school, said:

"We are the bus operating support for the Indus international school system in Bangalore. And we have so many issues we are facing because of the Bangalore traffic… parents are little worried about that kids are spending more time in the buses."

He said frequent urination issues among younger children prompted discussions with school management, leading to the decision to install bio-toilets.

Maintenance schedule and expansion plans

The bio-toilet tanks require cleaning once every six months to ensure hygiene and smooth functioning. Encouraged by positive feedback from students and parents, the school plans to extend the facility to 10 more buses operating on long routes.

Indus International School currently operates a fleet of 37 buses and plans to prioritise routes where students spend the most time in traffic.

Reduced stress for students during long journeys

Students travelling for over an hour daily report that onboard toilets have significantly reduced anxiety during traffic snarls.

Vihaan Reddy, a student who travels from Bommanahalli, said:

"I live in Bommanahalli, it takes 45 minute to an hour's journey. This is very convenient, because we don't go through any anxiety, and it's like – it's a safer ride and more free to use."

Another student, Diya, highlighted how unpredictable traffic affects travel time, saying:

"It’s usually a one to one-hour-forty five-minute drive, but it goes up to two, two and a half hours, sometimes due to the traffic."

Brihanya, who spends up to two hours commuting on congested days, said the facility offers a sense of safety and relief during long journeys.

Staff flag hygiene and long travel hours

School staff also pointed to hygiene concerns and extended travel hours for children.

The PYP Coordinator said:

"I think this is a great initiative to have bio toilets on the bus… it’s become very difficult to commute. The journey that used to take me 45 minutes now takes me two and a half hours."

She noted that some children leave home as early as 6 am and return by 5 pm, making access to clean washrooms essential for both students and adults.