Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Skill upgrade training mandatory for heavy vehicle drivers

CHENNAI: The Home Department has issued an order, making it mandatory for all heavy vehicle drivers to undergo one-day skill upgrade training from October this year.

After completing the course, the drivers should produce the certificate issued by authorised heavy vehicle driving schools at the time of endorsement/renewal of their licence, says an official release.

The course fee to be collected by the driving schools has been fixed at Rs. 300 as advised by the Institute of Road Transport, Taramani. The Zonal Officers of the Department have been informed that any amount below this could be finalised for the driving schools depending upon the infrastructure available and the number of participants in a particular course.

However, the Department has received complaints about the exorbitant fees charged by some driving schools, which also issue certificates without conducting the training programme. So the Zonal officers have been instructed to monitor the functioning of the driving schools with regard to the quality of the programme and to ensure the collection of the authorised fee.

The Regional Transport Officers and the Motor Vehicle Inspectors have been asked to act against the violating schools.

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