Bengaluru: Private driving schools eager to hold driving tests and issue certificates

Bengaluru: Many private driving schools are keen to conduct driving tests on their own tracks and issue the necessary eligibility certificates for driving licenses. Several have already applied to the Transport Department for this purpose.

A private individual has also submitted an application, claiming to meet the required regulations.

To alleviate the hassle of visiting RTO offices, the central government has introduced a system from June 1st that allows private driving schools to conduct tests and issue the eligibility certificates needed for driving licenses. The Transport Department has invited applications from Accredited Driver Training Centers (ADTCs) to initiate this process. A private individual has come forward in a short period to apply for this.

A person from Yelahanka in the city has built a driving track on their two-acre land and is prepared to issue eligibility certificates for driving licenses, meeting the necessary standards set by the Transport Department. If everything proceeds as planned, this will become the state’s first ADTC to conduct driving tests and issue certificates privately.

Standards and Regulations

There are many driving schools in Bengaluru and across the state, but not all are eligible to issue driving license eligibility certificates. The requirements include having two acres of land, an eight-shaped driving track, and CCTV installation in specific areas. Candidates must undergo about a month of classes and be informed about transport regulations.

Only those who meet these criteria can issue the certificates. Currently, no driving training centers in the state have such accreditation. The application from the individual in Yelahanka is the first to be accepted. If they meet all necessary standards, they will be granted a license, according to Transport Department officials.

The Transport Department typically issues an average of 1.5 to 2 crore driving licenses each year, including both professional and non-professional licenses. Last year, i.e. in 2022-23, the department issued 2.23 crore various types of driving licenses. Most four-wheeler driving licenses are processed through training centers or agents, with a small number being applied for online.

“An individual from Yelahanka has applied for permission to issue the eligibility certificates needed for driving licenses. This application has already been sent to the regional transport officer for verification. If they comply with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Transport Department regulations, permission will be granted,” said B.P. Umashankar, Additional Transport Commissioner (Administration).

Translate from a Kannada article by Vijayakumar Chandargi