Bhubaneswar, June 8: The transport department will upgrade the city's sole driving test centre at Chandrasekharpur with automated driving test track to make tests more stringent. The centre conducts around 7,500 tests every month for two and four wheelers.
The automated track will be fitted with sensors and closed circuit television cameras that will eliminate the existing process of visual monitoring by transport officials before granting a driving license. "Two parallel lines of sensors will be positioned throughout the length of the track at one metre distance. The sensors will pass signal during tests. An applicant who touches more than a specified number of sensors will be disqualified," said regional transport officer, Bhubaneswar II, S.K. Behera. He also said the construction of the tracks would be completed in another four months.
The Chandrasekharpur track, located on three acres, currently conducts driving tests for motorcycles and cars. It has several tracks, including an S-shaped and an 8-shaped one. Transport officials said around 1,500 licence applicants fail the driving test every month.
The new system will also generate computerised test results with details such as time taken to complete the test, number of sensors touched and the applicant's total score. The result will also reflect whether the applicant has passed the test.
"The automatic system will not only check the applicant's driving skill but also ensure transparency while issuing licences. We are also planning to conduct simulator tests for four-wheel drivers along with the field test at the centre," said a transport official.
A simulator creates realistic weather and light conditions through a computer software to give the driver the experience of driving in such conditions from the safety of a room.
Earlier, the transport department had set up a training centre at the venue to apprise each applicant about what to expect in the test during a 30-minute session.
"Our motive is to reduce road mishaps by creating awareness and enforcing strict traffic norms. We will also intensify our drive against drunk driving. We have already started an initiative where we suspend licences of drunk drivers," said Behera.
