Driving school strike still continuing; driving tests stopped again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move by the transport department to conduct driving tests under police protection was not entirely successful. It was withdrawn following the protest of the joint strike committee of the driving schools.

Tests were conducted only in Chadayamangalam and Alathur. In Chadayamangalam, 16 people participated and 6 people passed. Officials claimed that a total of 84 people participated in the tests.

The strike against conducting the test in a modified manner and reducing the number of participants has passed five days. In Thrissur Athani, the driving schools protested by preparing a grave hole at the testing ground. At Thiruvananthapuram Muttathara, they protested by lying on the road.

77 out of 86 grounds are leased by driving school unions. The driving schools are striking by closing these grounds. The transport department claimed to have found 24 locations belonging to KSRTC but the facilities have not been provided. Conducting tests on school grounds is also impractical. Tests cannot be conducted there as schools reopen in June. A huge amount of rent has to be paid to acquire private land. The help of the Revenue and Local Self-Governments will be required to find new land.

Government Centers 9, Working 4

The Department of Motor Vehicles has its own testing centres at nine locations. Of these, only the centres at Muttathara and Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district and Muvattupuzha and Tripunithura in Ernakulam district are functioning. The centres at Uzhavoor in Kottayam, Chevayoor in Kozhikode, Kannur, Taliparamba and Bellam in Kasaragod are not working. The one in Bellam has not been inaugurated.

Crises

1. Construction cannot be done without documents or contracts
2. Repair work should be done on the grounds
3. Tracks should be concreted
4. 50 cent of land is needed for testing centers
5. Testing track requires 13.07 cents of land
6. Toilet, drinking water and parking facilities are required