Soon, Mangaluru would have the distinction of the only city catering to multiple requirements of the transport sector — a driving test track, a drivers’ training institute and a vehicle inspection centre, all at one place.
While the transport department has already awarded the work on automated driving test track to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), plans are in the final stage for the training institute and inspection centre.
All the three facilities are coming up on a 10-acre plot purchased by the department from Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) in Phajir village near Konaje, according to Deputy Commissioner of Transport, Mangaluru, Afzal Ahmed Khan.
Refresher courses
D. Devaraj Urs Truck Terminals Ltd., a government of Karnataka Company, is given the task of constructing the training institute. Its Managing Director L. Hemanth Kumar told The Hindu that the primary intention of the institute is to hone the skills of drivers of heavy vehicles who are already behind the wheels.
Refresher courses of two-three days duration would be conducted to acquaint drivers with the latest developments and technology in the field.
This would particularly be useful to drivers of vehicles transporting hazardous material. At the same time, transport department inspectors too would be made to attend refresher courses at least once a year, Mr. Kumar said.
No profit-no loss
While the government would build the civil infrastructure, including administrative building, driving track, canteen and hostel, training would be imparted by well-known heavy vehicle manufacturers.
The institute would be administered by a society chaired by the State Transport Commissioner and would run on no profit-no loss basis.
Trainees would have to pay fee for training, boarding and accommodation, which would be equal to the actual cost incurred, Mr. Kumr said.
Inspection centre
Meanwhile, a vehicle inspection centre too would come up along with the test track and the training institute.
The centre, to be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to test vehicles, the centre would do away the discretion being exercised by the transport department officials in certifying a vehicle to be ‘fit’ to be on road, Mr. Kumar said.
The Motor Vehicles Act and rules make it mandatory that every transport vehicle (goods as well as passenger vehicles) should be certified to be ‘fit’ to be on the road every year.
Presently, the fitness certificates are issued by regional transport officers after inspection by inspectors of motor vehicles.
Mr. Kumar said the centre would certify a vehicle with minimal human intervention only if it meets all the specified parameters.
To come up near Konaje