Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 14 2009:
The state government's attempt to set up a driving college in the state in collaboration with a private firm, Tata Company, has drawn flak from the only driving school in the state.
Talking to reporters today at the Manipur Press Club, the secretary of Manipur Motor Driving School, Tera Thangapat Mapal, Shantikumar Naorem, said that setting up a driving college after proving the success of a driving school has been a norm elsewhere.
But he wonders at the statement of the state Transport Minister, who said few days ago that a state-owned driving college will be set up under the sponsorship of a private firm.
Shantikumar pointed out that there is no implication in setting up a driving college in the state.
He also sees the government plan of setting up a driving college as a strategy formulated by some individuals who are interested in drawing huge amount of money from government's exchequer and who want to acquire
private lands.
Blaming the transport department for frequent road accidents in the state, Shantikumar also pointed out that driving licenses are issued to applicants after producing the learner's certificate in other states.
He lamented that such rule has been grossly violated in the state and driving licenses are issued simply.
He said, 90 percent of the drivers in the state are devoid of road sense.
He said a new scheme of Road Accident Controlling Section in City (RACS) will be launched soon in order to avoid road accidents.
Shantikumar said the concerned authority of the transport department and the DSP of Traffic have been informed of the plan in writings.
Shantikumar further added that the driving school, established in 2003, has produced 1624 trainees so far.
The school has 12 ITI certified instructors.
Though, the driving school did not receive any help from the government, the school has opened its branches in Churachandpur and Imphal East districts.
Branches will soon be opened in Bishnupur and Thoubal districts.