The process for establishing accredited driver training centres (ADTCs) in Uttar Pradesh will now be conducted entirely online, a move aimed at enhancing transparency and improving road safety by ensuring that only properly trained drivers operate vehicles.
The decision follows amendments made by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, introducing new provisions for the setting up of ADTCs. The changes are intended to make driver training more scientific, systematic and of higher quality.
Under existing norms, there is a provision to establish one driver training centre for every 10 lakh population. At present, the transport department operates 21 training centres across 18 districts in the state. These centres focus on imparting safe and responsible driving skills. Drivers trained at ADTCs are eligible for exemption from the driving test and can obtain driving licences more easily.
Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh said that applications for the establishment and operation of ADTCs will now be accepted only through an online system. A dedicated portal is being developed for this purpose and will be launched soon. Earlier, the application process was offline, and last year, applications were invited for centres in 58 districts, excluding the Institute of Driving Training and Research and the Driving Training Testing Institute.
The minister said the shift to a fully digital process would improve transparency, monitoring and accountability. He added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has placed strong emphasis on road safety, with a target of reducing road accident fatalities by 50 per cent. Strengthening and modernising the driver training system is a key step towards achieving this goal.