Auto association plans institute in 3 states

Western India Automobile Association (WIAA), in partnership with the Gujarat government is planning to establish a training and testing institute for drivers and vehicles in the state.

It is also working on taking the concept to other states as well. The association is looking at similar initiatives in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the coming months.

The association's present plan to set up a training and testing institute for drivers and vehicles in Gujarat has received impetus with the state government marking some land for the venture near Himmatnagar.

The institute will have residential facilities for driving learners for both light and medium vehicles as well as heavy vehicles. It will contain simulators to understand driving virtually before driving a vehicle as well as testing centres for the vehicles.

A test track is also being planned on the premises.

The institute is looking to develop the infrastructure within an area of 25 acres which would cater to five regional transport offices (RTOs) including Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Nadiad and Himmatnagar. Each institute would need an investment of around Rs 10 crore.

WIAA is in the process of setting up a vehicle checking and certification units across Gujarat. The vehicle checking units will check the lamps and headlights of every vehicle and replace them on the spot if required.

The centres will come up on 21 accident-prone crossroads in Ahmedabad and six cities in Gujarat. The vehicle certification units will be set up at five locations, including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Kutch, Rajkot and Navsari.

On the occasion of its Ahmedabad branch completing a year, WIAA has decided to expand to other cities in the state including Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot in the near future.

It also announced that during its inaugural year, 13,654 candidates visited the centre for learners' licence and 9,713 candidates managed to procure them.