NIAIMT
Dy Director and Site Head of NIAIMT, Dr Abhijit Kr Mandal addressing a gathering during the launch of India's first course on GPS and Telematics technicians in Silchar. Image - Northeast Now

At a time when the Government of India is determined to put in place GPS tracking system in all public transport vehicles, including taxis and buses by April 1 next year, NIAIMT, Japirbond in Cachar has launched a course ‘GPS and Telematics technicians’.

National Institute for Automotive Inspection Maintenance and Training (NIAIMT) is located at Japirbond on the outskirts of Silchar.

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Only six of its kind in the whole of India under the Department of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise, NIAIMT’s course on GPS and Telematics was launched on Tuesday, and is the first of its kind in India.

This course would be run primarily for drivers and mechanics at the National Automotive Testing and R & D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) out here, in collaboration with New Delhi based Indian Auto Company (IAC) as its training partner and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) as its knowledge partner.

Launched on Tuesday for a four-day course for each batch, this programme was inaugurated by Neeti Sarkar, CEO and Project Director of NATRIP through video conferencing from New Delhi, while aptly supported by, Deepjyoti Chakraborty, Deputy Commissioner (Transport), Government of Assam, in presence of a host of other dignitaries.

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Speaking on this occasion through video conferencing from New Delhi, Neeti Sarkar said, “The Government’s mandate to install GPS in all public transport was for April 1, 2018, but lack of preparedness for it, now we need to put all of these in place by 1st April next year. There is a need for trained manpower in handling these tech-driven devices which would make movements easier for vehicles and can also ease traffic congestion.”

Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Deepjyoti Chakraborty, informed, “We have already issued all District Transport Officers (DTOs) to instruct for installation of GPS tracking system in commercial vehicles.

Chakraborty assured NIAIMT of all cooperation for successfully running the course in the days to come.

Deputy Director and Site Head of NIAIMT, Dr Abhijit Kumar Mandal, speaking to Northeast Now said, “As per the mandate of the Government, vehicle manufacturers would now put it in the market with GPS installed commercial vehicles, and those vehicles which are already running can retrofit it from our partners as they themselves manufacture these GPS.”

The significance of this course is that one who learns can use his know how as there are few and far between in the market who can handle this technology. “Even a class VIII-passed student can learn it and set up his own business or get a good job. This course is seamlessly aligned with the objective of ‘Skill India’ programme of creating opportunities and provide scope for development of talents of the local youths,” added Dr Mandal.