Finally, roads in Gujarat may perhaps get a little more safer with the move to impart better driving skills for bus drivers in the state. Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) along with the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has launched a major drive to train the 21,000 bus drivers of its 16 divisions in better driving techniques. The training drive began from Monday at WIAA’s Bodakdev site.

WIAA will GSRTC drivers in batches of 25 each on alternate days and this will include 3,000 drivers of 15 depots of Ahmedabad division. A nominal fee of Rs 150 will be charged per driver for the one-day day training which includes food, said WIAA branch secretary Shrinivas Desai. GSRTC will foot the bill for training as the payment terms are finalised between the two organisations.

‘‘Normally it is very difficult to convince experienced drivers about the need to get trained in driving skills because they and their employers believe that they do not need any training’’, Desai said.

However, a proper exposure to various aspects of safe driving and highway usage protocol do make a big difference and help avoid road accidents that kill hundreds of people every year, he said.

It was easy for WIAA to convince GSRTC about training its drivers but the real problem is with private bus operators and transporters as they think it is not feasible financially and commercially to spare a driver for even a day’s training as it causes the company a loss of Rs 2,000 a day.

Desai said this segment could be covered by the state transport department which can make it mandatory for getting a two-day training each time a heavy vehicle driver approaches the RTO for renewal of his driving licence.

During the day-long training, the drivers will be trained in three phases. theory, practical training and training on simulator. They will be taught ergonomics to eliminate problems like driving fatigue due to wrong practices, night driving, relaxation methods and defensive driving techniques but there would no physical tests involved in this one-day module, said Desai.

P K Patel, chief traffic manager of GSRTC, said this was part of the in-service training and refresher course for drivers to give them an opportunity to analyse common errors in driving and refresh their skills. WIAA has also trained GSRTC drivers in the past, Patel said, adding, such training enables drivers to focus on special aspects of driving.

Offering hope and healing to flood-hit residents, a song is making waves across Surat nowadays. Chalo Phari Pacha Hasta Thai Jaiye (come, let’s smile again) is inspiring Surtis to meet the future with a smile. Playing in cinema halls, video theatres and on the local television channels, the song tops as ringtone favourites for mobile users.

‘‘Our message is clear. We want residents to meet difficulties head-on and start thinking of their future,’’ says lyricist Dr Mukul Choksi, who is also a leading psychiatrist. As many as 1,000-odd VCDs have been distributed throughout the city free-of-cost and ‘‘the demands is still rising,’’ he says. The song has been composed by Mehul Surti and sung by Aman Lekhadia.

What inspired Dr Choksi to write the song? My patients and the condition of the city post-floods, he quips. ‘‘Having lost their dear ones and property in the recent floods, several residents went into depression. Many experienced post-traumatic stress syndrome. I have received patients who would experience trauma on seeing water. Then there were those who could not sleep at night fearing floods. These experiences forced me to write a song that could encourage people to carry on despite adversities,’’ he says.

Rupesh Vora, distributor of Tirupati edible oil, readily agreed to sponsor the music video and audio cassettes. He also hired 50-60 autorickshaws, got them fitted with loudspeakers and played the song through the lanes and bylanes of Surat. Vora says, ‘‘I’m a Surti and I wanted to do something for my people following the catastrophe. Through the song, we want to help Surtis shake off their sorrows, understand their strength and work for a better future.’’