Punjab Govt signs MoU with TATA Motors for driving school

Chandigarh, Feb 19 (UNI) The Punjab Government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TATA Motors to set up a state-of-the-art State Institute of Automotive and Driving Skills (SIADS) at Village Mahuanna in Muktsar district .

According to the spokesman of the Punjab Government, the MoU was signed by the Managing Director, Pepsu Roadways Corporation (PRTC) Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Vice President (Sales&Marketing) TATA Motors Ravindra Pisharody on behalf of the Punjab Government and TATA Motors respectively in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Managing Director TATA Motors Ravi Kant at Kapurthala House, New Delhi.

The spokesman further said that the institute would be set up by the PRTC which has been entrusted by the state government to act as a nodal agency for conceptualising, planning and operationalizing the said skill development centre.

This institute would be set up over an area of 14 acres and the government of Punjab would invest Rs 10.17 crore for creating the most modern complex, training track, computerized driving test and hostel facilities.

TATA Motors Ltd would invest Rs 2.5 crore as a joint venture partner in setting up of this institute by way of providing vehicles and equipment for training.

The institute would generate gainful employment opportunities within and outside the State especially in the Middle East countries by upgrading the skills of existing work force and to instill driving responsibilities so as to reduce accident rate thus ensuring safety of general public.

He spokesman further said that the institute would conduct certificate courses for imparting training to light motor vehicles, heavy motor vehicles, "Off the road vehicles" like excavators and cranes etc. and for other trades related to the automobile sector like Automobile Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Welder, Electrician, Painter and Air Conditioning.

The department of Technical Education and Industrial Training would provide instructors for all the industrial training courses and will guide the society in laying down norms and qualifications for engaging the rest of the staff.

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