Aspiring drivers wanting to steer heavy commercial vehicles will no longer have to venture out of the state to fulfil their dreams.

The state government is gearing up to start Jharkhand's first heavy vehicle training institute in partnership with Tata Motors in a few months from now, the move expected to usher in a number of positives like putting an end to fake driving licence rackets.

Transport department mandarins have zeroed in on Jamshedpur for opening the training school with East Singhbhum district administration promptly arranging 12 acres at Kashida near NH-33 (between Jamshedpur and Ghatshila), around 25km from the steel city.

Officials further said by the end of this month, the department would be in a position to formally seal a deal with the private partner.

Transport secretary-cum-commissioner Ratan Kumar said Tata Motors had recently given its consent for the project and pledged to invest Rs 2 crore from its corporate social responsibility coffers.

"We have started preparing a draft for signing the MoU with Tata Motors," he said, adding that the institute would be run by a registered society to be formed jointly with officials drawn from Tata Motors and the state government.

Kumar said Jharkhand did not have a driving institute for heavy vehicles even though it is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act. But, now that the Tatas had given a consent letter, the state would approach the Centre for funds approval.

According to the last amendments to the MV Act, driving licences for heavy vehicles can't be issued unless the applicant is certified by a recognised institute of the particular state, which explains the freeze on issue of heavy vehicle licences in Jharkhand for the past two years.

The embargo has consequently given rise to a thriving racket of truck drivers with fake licences.

"According to a recent statement by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, 30 per cent heavy vehicle drivers operated with fake licences. In Jharkhand, the figure is much more. Driving institutes for heavy vehicle are a must for running a smooth transport system and checking accidents," said Hemi Budhiya, proprietor of Radheshyam Transport.

The state has around 15,000 heavy vehicles, 80 per cent of which are trucksrailers, while the rest are buses.