UP's Big Drive: Nine Model Institutes to Train Commercial Drivers

The Uttar Pradesh government is taking steps to establish nine Model Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) aimed at improving road safety and providing advanced training for commercial drivers. Transport Commissioner Brajesh Narain Singh has reached out to the district magistrates of Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Agra, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Jhansi, Kanpur Nagar, Shahjahanpur, and Prayagraj, requesting them to allocate 10-15 acres of land for these institutions.

The IDTRs will be set up under a scheme funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which has called for proposals for these locations. This initiative is designed to address the shortage of trained commercial drivers, improve road safety, and create new employment opportunities. Uttar Pradesh currently has 30,37,166 registered commercial vehicles, yet only 27,48,523 licensed commercial drivers, highlighting a gap in skilled drivers.

The Transport Commissioner has asked the District Magistrates to confirm the availability of land, and once the land allocations are finalized, the proposals will be forwarded to MoRTH for approval by the state government.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.