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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 28

THOUGH Kerala's much-trumpeted ride down the IT highway has proceeded in fits and starts, here's a drive which is most "fit'' as far as starts go.

For, the Computer-Aided Learners Licensing System (CALLS), introduced by the Motor Vehicles Department using a software developed by the State unit of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), gets done with the test and issues the learner's licence in just 30 minutes flat!

CALLS seeks to remove, at one stroke, the roadblocks which motorists have encountered all these years in their quest to secure the mandatory learner's driving licence.

All that the candidate has to do is walk into the testing centre and fill up the application form relating to the class of vehicle, submit proof for age and place of residence along with four passport size photographs and pay the required fees. They can choose between Malayalam and English for answering the test.

One of the 10 computers installed at the CALLS test centre will be allotted to the candidate. The display unit and announcement unit will alternatively flash and announce the serial number of the computer terminal allotted.

For starters, the candidate will also be offered the facility to undergo a mock test to get a feel of the decider, if desired.

Once the controlling officer waves down his okay, the candidate can reach for the assigned terminal. The computer selects 20 questions from a bank of 220 and throws them at the candidate.

The result will flash after the candidate has given either 12 correct answers or nine wrong answers or after 20 minutes after commencement of the test, whichever is earlier.

Those clearing the test will be provided a computer-generated label forum in Form 3 with the name, number and the vehicle they are authorised to drive.

It will also have the date on which the final test would be held.

Those failing in the learner's test can take the test again the next day itself after remitting the fees.

CALLS, now available in Thiruvananthapuram, will be extended to Kochi and Kozhikode by August, according to the Transport Minister, Mr K.B. Ganesh Kumar.

The rush for learner's licences is more at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

Currently, the objective written test of 1998 vintage is being held at 18 Regional Transport Offices and 42 Joint Regional Transport Offices in the State.

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