The government on Wednesday asked select city schools to encourage parents to opt for pool cars for their children instead of sending them to school in their own vehicles, the move aimed at reducing congestion in front of prominent institutions.

The schools have also been asked to prepare a database of how each student travels and share the information with police and the education department.

Additionally, the schools have to share with the government information on the pool cars and buses ferrying their students and the names of those running the service. The schools will also have to provide detailed information of the drivers and their assistants.

“If two children who travel in their individual vehicles start travelling in one car, the traffic volume (in front of their school) will immediately be reduced to half,” said Santosh Pandey, deputy commissioner of police, traffic, who attended the meeting at Bikash Bhavan.

The heads of 23 private and government schools turned up at the meeting, which was also attended by school education department officials.

The schools that were represented at the meeting include La Martiniere for Girls, La Martiniere for Boys, Modern High School for Girls, St James’ School, Pratt Memorial School, Calcutta Girls’ High School, South Point, The Future Foundation School and GD Birla Centre for Education.

“The police and the education department have asked schools to encourage parents to car pool instead of sending their children in individual cars. If parents are availing themselves of the services of privately operated pool cars, they should ensure that the vehicles have a fit certificate,” said Terence Ireland, the principal of St James’ School.