TSRTC skill centre hits fund hurdle

Hyderabad: The Skill Development Centre proposed at TSRTC Transport Academy, which can also issue driving licenses is yet to take off because the Centre has not yet allocated funds for the purpose.

It was planned to inaugurate the Skill Development Centre by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but was put off two times during the last six months. It was first proposed to start the centre in July but was postponed to August 15, but both the deadlines were missed and it is yet to get started.

The TSRTC officials said they had made all arrangements and were ready with the equipment and were awaiting the Centre’s response for release of funds. As per the Centre’s proposal, the trainees participating in the course in SDC are entitled to get stipend.

The TSRTC has Transport Academy, where the corporation takes up training to the drivers, conductors and other staff. The training also includes seminars, karate training etc. The Centre had accorded the status of Skill Development Centre to the Academy. With the SDC status, the TSRTC could issue driving licenses on the lines of the local RTA.

The RTC officials said with a view to develop the skills of unemployed youth and to polish their existing driving and other motor mechanic skills and to shape them up for becoming self-sustainable, the Union government proposed to establish SDCs throughout the country. 

The TSRTC had applied for getting the status of SDC and the Centre selected the existing training institutes at Transport Academy at Hakimpet, Zonal Staff Training College/HPT and Warangal. The academy had procured two cars for LMV driving test and two buses for the heavy motor vehicle driving tests.

The official said that RTC had the accident rate of 0.07 per cent, which was the lowest in the country and there had been a decrease in the number of accidents during the last two years. The RTC had a head count of 50,000 out of whom 20,870 drivers and 25 per cent of the drivers were not involved in any accidents, the official added.

RTC MD G V Ramana Rao told The Hans India that the corporation was ready to start the SDC and they were only waiting for the Centre’s nod. He said that clarity had to come from the Centre on funds for stipend and other infrastructure. Once the Union government took a call, the SDC would start, he added.