New norms for driving license soon

OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 20:

To ensure transparent service delivery in issuing driving licenses (DL), the Odisha government has decided to set up an automated driving track to test the driving skill of the applicants.

This was among a host of issues discussed at a high level meeting presided over by chief secretary JK Mohapatra at the State Secretariat here on Friday.

The automated driving test track will have electronic sensors which will help in grading the driver’s skill and knowledge on driving. A sensor with an automated camera will be fixed in the vehicle of the applicant who applies for the license and comes for the test. The camera and the electronic sensors on the track will transmit the skill level and errors committed by the driver while giving the test. This will reduce the human interface in the process and will make the process more transparent.

It was decided in the meeting that the system will be set up on PPP mode.

The chief secretary asked the transport department to identify places where land is available for construction of the tracks and placement of the technologies.

Steps will be taken to set up such facilities in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Brahmapur in the first phase.

The chief secretary asked the department to study the models adopted in other states and expedite the process and accomplish the task within six months.

Secretary of the Commerce and Transport department G Mathivathanan informed that henceforth, DL smart cards and registration certificates (RCs) will be sent directly to the applicant through speed post. The service charge towards this will be collected from the owner of the card.

The meeting also decided to set up more driving training institutes in partnership with the Tata Motors and Maruti Motors.

At present, one institute has been set up at Chhatia in Jajpur district.

The chief secretary asked the department to finalize the agreement document with Tata Motors within 45 days. He also asked the Maruti Motors to come up with a final suggestion for signing of the agreement with the government.

Among others, development commissioner Injeti Srinivas, additional chief secretary Finance UN Behera, secretary, IT Madhusudan Padhi, secretary, Employment and Technical Education CS Kumar, commissioner, Commercial Tax Manoj Ahuja, director, Employment Mission Shalini Pandit and senior officials of the concerned departments were present at the meeting.