RTO Driving Test Yard in Vamanjoor looks like a ‘Dirt Bike Racing Track’?

RTO Driving Test Yard in Vamanjoor looks like a ‘Dirt Bike Racing Track’?

Mangaluru: One thing for sure, if you are successful in passing your Driving Test at the RTO Driving Test Yard in Vamanjoor, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, then you’ll have no problems driving on dilapidated/potholed streets anywhere in India- and for that matter, anywhere in other foreign countries (if they have bad roads?). I remember getting my driving test done at this same location, which was a nightmare five years ago- and five years later, the driving test yard remains the same with potholes, path with ups and downs, rough surfaces etc.

People are made to take testing skills on an uneven track, and there have been complaints from those who took the tests since the driving test track was filled with potholes, rocks, rough surface and so on. Many RTO’s had come and gone, who had promised to have a better Driving Test Yard in Mangaluru, but all in vain. A couple of years ago, the department had identified and had plans of developing a 2-acre plot of land at Devi Nagar near St Joseph’s engineering college in Vamanjoor, as a full-fledged driving track. An estimate of Rs 75 lac was sent to the state government, but until now nothing has materialised. There were also plans to have a full-fledged Driving Test yard in Derlakatteor Kulur- but it has been only talks by the RTO’s and other concerned traffic authorities.

Finding how to get to the Vamanjoor Driving Test Yard is another pain in the neck- there are no signs or department board posted anywhere directing to the place. And the road leading to the yard is also narrow, with partial being concreted (where rich people homes are located)- while the rest of the street is dilapidated. But sadly for the hundreds of people coming here to take the driving test is a nightmare, since they have to go through all these hurdles. Out of the many people who took the test today, only a few could pass- the reason being- dilapidated test track. It is learnt that its been years since the Regional Transport Office, Mangaluru, has been using this two-acre yard to conduct tests for those seeking license to drive two-wheelers, cars, and buses. On an average, 100 people take tests every day in this yard, between morning and afternoon. While a longer track in the yard is used for testing car driving skills, a small track is used for testing skills of a two-wheeler rider. Earlier, these tests were held near A.B. Shetty Circle. But whatever the case, people are not happy with the yard.

Motorists have been finding it hard to drive through these tracks. The problem is more so while passing through the uneven surface at places where motorists take a turn. Especially for two-wheeler riders who were finding it difficult to ride on the eight-shape and were forced to balance using their legs. Some riders even lost balance, and fell off their two-wheelers and were hurt. For car drivers, they too faced problems on this tracks, in changing the gear and their cars getting stalled. Motorists have expressed displeasure over the use of stones to demarcate the driving track.

A teenage girl who was all in tears after finishing her driving test speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “This is not fair at all. For the last few months, I have been learning driving on the city tarred or concreted streets- and for the driving test they are making us drive on this bad track filled with rocks, uneven surface, potholes etc. When the department is making enough money through fees etc why can’t they have a better driving test yard? I flunked in the test today and will have to take a retest again. I guess I will have to start practicing driving on potholed roads??”.

Raviraj, who took his driving test on the track for the first time said, “This is the first time I drove on this track. It was tough and miserable. Every time I backed up, I bumped into the huge rocks placed to demarcate the track. I drove on first gear and avoided changing gears fearing breakdown on this terrain. I passed my test, I guess by luck or through God’s blessings”. Funny to note is that the driving test yard area is getting a new wall constructed- but why waste money on building a wall? Is it necessary, I don’t think so-Instead the authorities should concentrate on updating the present driving test yard by concreting or taring it.

In conclusion, this Driving test track in Vamanjoor is in such a pathetic condition which is shameful for the Traffic department. There are many cases where young and old who have taken the driving test there have fallen and have been injured. In spite of reports of the pathetic condition of this track have been published by the media several times, sadly there has been no response from the concerned authorities.I assume that RTO is waiting until this problem gets worse and gets highlighted in the international media. If the RTO nails traffic rules offenders for violations, he should look also look into this condition of the driving test yard at the earliest.