Punjab CM lays foundation of automated driving test centre

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the country's first automated driving test, online licence and training centre at Naruana in Bathinda. With this, Punjab has become the first state in the country to provide on-the-spot driving licences within half an hour after taking actual driving tests.

While interacting with media persons, Badal said Punjab is all set to end red-tapism and delay in transport offices by initiating this unique system with all international parameters.

He said as many as 32 ultra-modern driving test and training centers were being set up in the state, where applicants could get driving licenses in minimum time without any interaction with district transport offices. He said Punjab has set an example before the country to provide on-the-spot licences through driving tests in accordance with international standards. He said these centers would have serpentine and gradient test track for two and four wheelers.

Badal said these centers will have ultra-modern gadgets, including CCTV cameras, motion sensors and webcasting facility. He said fingerprint scanning and biometric of applicant could be crosschecked before start of test.

He also said Maruti-Suzuki India would also run driving training institute on these sites to impart classroom training, simulator training as well as practical training to candidates.

Other locations where automated centers to be established are Amritsar, Barnala, Fazilka, Batala (Gurdaspur), Hoshiarpur, Jagraon, Khanna, Mansa and Nawan Shahr.