Fulfilling its obligation under the 12th Five-Year Plan, the State Government has entered into an agreement with Tata Motors to set up Institute of Driving Training and Research Centre (IDTRC). The institute would come up at Kashidih near Jamshedpur and take 18 months' time to become fully functional.
The State Cabinet has already cleared the project under which 12 acres of Government land would be made available to Tata Motors free of cost. The Centre would also sanction Rs 17 crore through Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways as per the Five-Year Plan which promises to set up such institutes in every State keeping road safety and commutation in mind.
As per the MoU singed on Monday for this purpose, Tata Motors would frame syllabus and course curriculum for training of motor drivers besides making available vehicles and equipment to them. The IDTRC is expected to train over 3,000 drivers for light motor vehicle, transport vehicles and heavy transport vehicles in every batch. It would also provide refresher course to 15,000 drivers every year.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said, "We want rapid development of the State and for that skill development of the youth tops our priority list. Without skill development and efficiency enhancement the goal cannot be achieved. It is a duty of the State Government. I also feel that women should be trained as well so that they can take care of their families economically."
The Chief Minister, besides training for driving, also stressed over maintenance and repairing of motor vehicles and short-term refresher courses for untrained drivers and helpers at the institute. Transport Secretary Ratan Kumar and Sanjeev Garg, Vice-President and Global Head- Customer Care- CVBU of Tata Motors signed the agreement.
A senior official of the company said that the institute would introduce innovative driving testing system and would do skill assessment based on camera. "The technology and latest others like stimulators would be made available to trainee drivers. We have come across most of such drivers, especially in this part of the country, who are unaware of road safety signs that often cause accidents. The institute would give stress focus on that and make sure that the drivers learn all the signage before hitting the road," he said.
It is learnt that the State Government and Tata Motors would share equally the number of trainees every year and stress would be given to train unemployed, unskilled youths from vulnerable sections of society.
"The institute would provide them certificates against the training which would be valid all over the country and even abroad. By this, the drivers can also generate better income for themselves. The whole purpose of the institute is to upgrade driving skill in order to generate better income for the youths," said an official of the Transport Department.
Urban Development Minister CP Singh, Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba, labour and Employment Secretary Mridula Sinha, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kumar and Secretary Sunil Kumar Burnwal and senior officials of the Tata Motors were present on the occasion.