Bhubaneswar, July 1 (IANS): The Odisha government has decided to conduct special camps at colleges to hold tests for issuing learners' driving licences to students, a minister said here on Wednesday.

Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi said the special camps would encourage youngsters to understand the importance of rules and regulations while driving a vehicle on the road.

The government took the decision at the annual review meeting of commerce and transport department chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday.

"With seven districts of the state yet to receive railway services, the government has decided to approach the Railway Ministry to carry out the railway projects through special purpose vehicle (SPV) for expeditious work," said a department official.

Since the construction work of Khurdha-Bolangir railway line is going on at snail's pace, the chief minister directed the work be expedited in regular consultation with the railway officials.

The chief minister has directed to extend the 'Biju Gaon Gadi' to another 506 panchayats. The mini-buses under the scheme are plying in 3,216 panchayats in 18 tribal dominated districts.