Dignitaries at the inaugural ceremony of the Traffic Park near Chandrasekharpur police station in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 11: The regional transport office will impart driving lessons to traffic violators. The training sessions will be held at the traffic park, which was inaugurated at Chandrashekharpur today. The park is equipped with a test-driving track.

Speaking at the inaugural event, regional transport officer (Bhubaneswar-II) S.K. Behera said that they had submitted a proposal to the state government and commissionerate police to train violators for an hour at the park before handing over the seized vehicles to them.

“After training, they would be issued a certificate and we are also planning to waive the penalty for first-time violators. Instead, they would undergo training at the park,” Behera said.

The park spread over an acre is equipped with traffic signals, signboards and electronic simulator to familiarise trainees with traffic rules and regulations. Besides, there is a classroom to impart theoretical lessons to 50 persons at a time. Two trainers have been appointed to train people from 8am to 6pm on all working days. Training programmes would be held at the park at regular intervals, free of cost for people of all age groups.

The authorities are also planning to make driving training at the park mandatory for driving licence applicants.

“We would invite various schools for training programme in the park so that students would adhere to the traffic norms in future,” he added.

A beginner’s bike of 49cc is also there to help students in the age group of 9-12 years understand the importance of safe riding.

A similar park was also inaugurated at the driving testing centre at Sector 6, CDA, in Cuttack. The respective regional transport offices have set up the park in collaboration with Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Limited.

Transport minister Ramesh Majhi, who inaugurated the park in Bhubaneswar, said the facility would beneficial for sensitising people about traffic rules and regulations.

“Such parks will also help to curb accidents as thousands of people die in the state in road accidents every year,” Majhi said.