Udupi : Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, said on Monday that the Government Tool Rom and Training Centre (GTTC) would provide skill training under its short-term and long-term courses to students who had passed SSLC so that they could get jobs in various industries.

He was speaking after laying the foundation for the Government Tool Room and Training Centre here. He also flagged off the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) low-floor bus service from Uppoor to Udupi on the occasion.

Mr. Madhwaraj said that the centre would give training in manufacturing tools and other components needed for industry. Such GTTCs had been set up in other districts as well.

Udupi was among the five places in the State that were getting GTTCs.

The GTTC had made a name in mould and die making technology.

It was known for its precision and quality in the development and manufacture of sophisticated moulds, dies and tools. The GTTC had added new technologies to the existing set of advanced equipment such as CAD/CAM, CNC machines for tooling, precision components, rapid prototyping, vacuum casting and others, which were helpful for small industries.

The GTTC would be constructed on five acres of land, which had been acquired from the Government High School here.

The GTTC would be built at a cost of Rs 43 crore. Already worth Rs 9.43 crore had been floated for the GTTC.

Nearly 200 students could get admission annually once the GTTC started functioning here, he said.

There had been a long pending demand from the people of the Perdoor-Uppoor region for KSRTC low-floor government buses. Hence, two buses have been provided for this region. If there was more demand, more buses would be provided, Mr. Madhwaraj said.

Shobha Karandlaje, MP, said that the Union government had provided about ₹ 9 crore each for the GTTCs being constructed in the State.

Oscar Fernandes, MP, Pratapchandra Shetty, MLC, Meenakshi Bannanje, president of Udupi City Municipal Council, Arati, president of Uppoor Gram Panchayat, were present.