Driving tests in limbo as Kozhikode MVD struggles to locate land for new grounds

Kozhikode: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) in Kerala has been facing difficulties in securing its own ground for conducting driving tests in Kozhikode district. Despite ongoing efforts in collaboration with the Revenue Department, no concrete decision has been made yet.

The search for government-owned land has been initiated, but locations identified near some local offices have yet to be finalised. Apart from Chevayoor, the driving test grounds in areas such as Vadakara, Koyilandy, Perambra, Nanminda, Koduvally, and the Ramanattukara joint RT offices are all currently operating on private land.

Dispute with driving schools

The situation worsened when a dispute between the MVD and local driving schools led to the schools locking the rented grounds they were using for driving tests. In response, Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar directed the MVD to find alternative land on its own.

Despite the minister’s directive being issued several months ago, MVD officials have not yet secured an appropriate location. Officials have stated that sites were identified in the Koyilandy and Nanminda offices, and notifications were sent to the village authorities. However, no response has been received from the Revenue Department.

In June, the MVD reached out to local self-government bodies, requesting them to identify land within the limits of the joint RT offices. While some offices responded, stating that no space was available, others have yet to provide feedback. This has left MVD officials unsure of the next steps to take.

Central government's guidelines

Under new central government regulations, driving test grounds are required to be equipped with modern facilities, which increases the need for larger spaces. The MVD estimates that at least one acre of land will be necessary to meet these requirements, but securing such a space has proven to be challenging.

The proposed facility would include separate tracks for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, as well as parking space for candidates who come for tests. Additional infrastructure, such as toilets and a building to house the necessary equipment, would also be required.

Initially, there were plans to use land owned by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for this purpose. However, further investigations revealed that no suitable KSRTC land was available in the district for such use.