25 new driving schools in AP from April 1

The state public transport department plans (APPT) to open driving schools across the state from April 1 to overcome the shortage of trained drivers for its fleet. It has already held negotiations with allied departments like the road transport authority (RTA) to follow certain guidelines while running the schools.
Nearly 25 such schools are planned across the state, including eight schools in Vizianagaram zone covering Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts. The schools would come up in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Araku, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry, Amalapuram and Kakinada.
The department presently has around 26,000 drivers across its four zones, which have nearly 12,800 buses, and faces a shortage of close to 2,000 drivers for its fleet. In Vizianagaram zone, there 4,487 drivers with a shortage of around 360, said Ravi Kumar, executive director of APPT. The department will set up separate class rooms with all required facilities in its driving schools.
“Youths interested in driving heavy vehicles can enrol in the schools. After they complete the course and clear the driving tests, they would be taken on contract basis as the department needs trained drivers,” Ravi Kumar told TOI. The APPT has fixed a fee of Rs 20,000 for the 45-day course. Only 16 students would be selected per course, where they would be trained by experienced drivers drawn from the fleet.

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