The sketch and plan of Transport Minister Ganesh Kumar, who came up with the regulation of driving tests, all failed, and the suggestion that only 50 driving tests should be conducted in one center from March 7 in Kerala is enough. With this, Ganesh Minister himself withdrew the reform that it is enough to conduct a driving test of 50 people in one center every day. The proposal was withdrawn following widespread protests across the state against the restriction. Ganesh Kumar also advised all those who got a slot for the driving test to take the test.
Ganesh Kumar’s directive came yesterday by restricting the driving tests. Officials of the motor vehicle department told those who came for the test at various centers today that only 50 people will be tested. This resulted in the protest. If the regulation is implemented, many who got slots today will have to go back. Following this, those who appeared for the test at various centers protested. This is followed by the minister’s intervention. The Minister proposed to introduce the restriction in the meeting of RTOs held yesterday. The new regulation was suddenly introduced as part of the reforms to be implemented from May 1. The driving school employees also protested against the new decision.
KB Ganesh Kumar had announced as soon as he assumed charge as the Transport Minister that the state’s driving test would be revised. A 10-member committee was formed for this purpose. The reforms were made after studying the committee’s report in detail.
A foot-geared vehicle was mandated for the two-wheeler test instead of a hand-geared vehicle. A vehicle with automatic gear and an electric vehicle should not be used to obtain a car license. The minister had informed that the driving test reform will come into effect from May 1. Typically 100 to 180 people take the driving test a day. Protesters pointed to practical problems in reducing it to 50.
At the same time, it is alleged that the driving license test reform that the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department is trying to implement will do more harm than good. This concern has been raised by the Driving School Honors Committee. Their main concern is that the reform may starve about one and a half lakh families. The new reform is without even preparing basic facilities and without appointing enough personnel. There are about 7000 big and small driving schools across the state. About one and a half lakh employees out of it. If the new law is implemented, about 90 percent of the schools will have to be closed. Most sub-RTO offices including Alathur do not even have a vehicle at present. There is also no battery to deal with power outages.
‘Ready to avoid vehicles with gear in hand (M.80). Officials come up with a law that cannot be implemented in practice, and when it fails, the responsibility falls on the minister. The agenda is corporatization led by retired officials’- State General Secretary of Driving School Owners Samiti Harisoon Nair said.
Impracticalities in reform
In the state with 86 test centers, the department has its own place in only nine places. Other test centers are in Ambalaparam, public or private premises or premises rented by schools. A track for revised test cannot be prepared there. It is impractical to prepare the track from 1st May onwards.
At present, around 2000 applicants are stuck without getting a date for the test.
90 percent of schools will have to get a new or a different vehicle if the law to eliminate vehicles older than 15 years comes into force. This will cost extra.
There is no rule that electric and automatic vehicles should not be used for the test. Only foreign license has automatic class. Vehicle fuel is not the issue here.
