Even though some of the driving schools in Jammu district lack necessary infrastructure mandated by the authorities, still they are operating without any restriction by the government.
Sources in the Transport Department said that in order to start a driving school, it is mandated that the owner must specify the syllabus and duration of course or courses. Other than that, the school must have proper infrastructure including facilities of classroom/demonstration room.
In some of these driving schools, the only available facility is the availability of motor vehicles. A learner said that these schools don’t have any specific syllabus and the learners are instructed to start practical classes from day one. According to the rules, the school must have a ground for the practical work (driving classes) but a majority of these schools have a practice session on the national highways putting lives of learners and others in danger.
Transport Department’s data states that there are 46 registered Driving Schools in Jammu province while in Kashmir province, the number is 26.
People have further problem that these driving schools have varied fees. While one driving school charges Rs 4500 for ten days of training, another charges same amount for 28 days of training. Some people are demanding that the Transport Department should have a control over these schools’ attempts to charge hugely.
A learner complained that it is not possible to learn driving in just ten days. Moreover, there is no theory classes given to learners and it just exists in papers. Joint Commissioner Transport Department, Gurmukh Singh, said that the department doesn’t have the responsibility to fix fee charged by any driving school and it is fixed by owners themselves.
Singh said that the schools should give training sessions to learners in their personal grounds on the dual controlled vehicles. These vehicles should have stickers pasted on both front and rear sides. He also said that it is the job of concerned Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to ensure that these driving schools don’t give training on national highways.
