Sambalpur: Students of various colleges have stepped out of classrooms to bring sanity to the chaotic streets here.

One hundred college students can be seen controlling traffic at various squares in the Sambalpur Muncipal Corporation limits.

"They are doing a good job. They are not only assisting traffic police, but are also helping convince unruly bike riders to drive safe," said additional superintendent of police Amarendra Rana.

The students have been deployed as part of the "student-traffic volunteers scholarship scheme" to assist the existing traffic police at the busy junctions. They will be paid Rs 100 daily for their three-hour service. They will work according to their convenience so that their classes do not get hampered," Rana said.

In Burla and Hirakud, students have also been deployed to manage traffic.

In Sambalpur they have been deployed at busy junctions such as GM University, Gole bazar, Laxmi Talkies, Mudipara, Ainthapali and Dhanupali Square. The police department has provided the volunteers with identity cards, dress with a logo and also a whistle.

"They were trained in ways to manage traffic during the busy hours and also deal with commuters with utmost politeness. They have also been told to listen and not enter into any kind of argument. Most of the student volunteers are very happy with their new assignments," Rana said.

"I like the job. I am very happy working with the traffic police. It is quite interesting," said Satyana Kumar, a student of GM University. He has been deployed at Dhanupali Square. The state government has initiated this programme in several towns to grapple with manpower crunch and also expose students to the traffic system. The students have been selected from institutions such as Gangadhar Meher University, Netaji Subhas Bose College, NAC colleges at Burla and Hirakud, Government BEd College and ITI, Hirakud.

The police have also made wearing helmets compulsory for the bikers in the district.