With an aim to improve traffic system in Punjab, the State Government has decided that the tests for grant of driving licences will now be done on modern tracks especially laid for the purpose.
“Now onwards, the driving tests by the authorities will be conducted on ultra-modern tracks,” said the State Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar on Sunday adding that this is aimed at having a safe and secure traffic management in the State.
“Punjab Transport Department is marching ahead by adopting the cutting edge technology so as to provide better services to the people and also infusing uniqueness in the functioning of the department,” he said.
Kohar said that the state government would ensure that the driving licenses be given only to the perfectionists who pass the required driving tests. “With the strict compliance of the government directive in issuing the driving licenses not only the genuine persons would be given the licenses but also the corruption be checked to a large extent,” he added.
Minister also said that according to this system, two-wheeler driving test would be conducted on a serpentine tracks especially laid for such vehicles.“There would also be three other types of tracks which would deal with testing of four-wheeler driving. One would be a four wheeler ‘8’ track, four-wheeler parallel parking track and a four-wheeler gradient test track,” he said.
In the earlier times, the driving test used to be conducted on roads and there was only visual check to test the efficiency of a person to drive a vehicle safely and following all prescribed rules.
“Now, there would be various electronic gadgets to keep a check on the ability of the driver. There would be motion sensors enabled CCTV cameras, webcasting facility besides these 10 cameras would be installed at each location. There would also be a finger print scanner based system where the applicant’s biometric would be matched before the commencement of the test. On both sides of the track, there would be pine cones which emit the sound of a beep when hit by a vehicle,” said Kohar.
Minister added that there would be 34 locations on which the tracks are proposed to be laid out. “The land on which these tracks are to be laid would be acquired from various departments like Technical Education, Revenue, local Government, Irrigation, Higher Education, PUDA and Colonisation,” he added.
Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda had inaugurated the seminar on November 21. It was presided over by MP Prasanna Kumar Patasani, while Mayor Ananta Narayana Jena was the guest of honour. Salil Mohanty, vice president, AMRI Hospital, also spoke. The inaugural function was followed by three technical sessions on history, culture, tourism, environment, ecology and conservation in which 25 research papers were presented.