Importance of safe driving stressed

Visakhapatnam: GITAM Vice-Chancellor Prof MS Prasada Rao stressed the importance of safe driving. He advised those who crossed above 18 years age to take a driving licence.

He participated at Learner’s Licence (LLR) mela organised by the District Transport Department at GITAM University on Tuesday to issue LLRs on the spot through the e-Pragathi programme.

While issuing the LLRs to students, the GITAM Vice-Chancellor advised the students to drive carefully and responsibly to avoid accidents. He hoped that the people would follow the traffic rules and prevent accidents. He appreciated the road transport authorities for choosing an innovative way of issue driving licences.

Deputy Transport Commissioner (DTC), Visakhapatnam, B Venkateswara Rao disclosed that they issued 40,000 LLRs to various age groups in the last 10 months through 300 LLR melas in the district.

He said the transport officials observed that 90 per cent of drivers were using vehicles in the Agency area without any driving licence for the last 20 years. “We issued 10,000 LLRs in 10 Agency mandals. Many women are applying for LLRs in urban areas when compared to rural areas. Through e-Pragathi programme, the department is concentrating more on educational institutions,” the DTC said.

GITAM Institute of Technology Principal K Lakshmiprasad, Student Affairs Director K Veerabhadram, Deputy Director Dr N V S Venugopal, Assistant Director Dr K V N N Saibaba and Transport Department officials participated in the programme.