Nagpur: Obtaining a driver’s licence has always been a herculean task in India and some people might have to wait countless days and paperwork to get hold of a valid driving licence. To avoid the pangs, people often resort to malpractice to get their licence issued quickly. Taking cognizance of the matter, the Government of India has taken some massive steps.
Starting June 1, 2024, people can take their driving tests at private driving schools instead of Government Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). These private schools will be allowed to take tests and provide certificates needed for a driving license.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has laid out new guidelines, as per which private driving training centres will be authorised to conduct the required tests and issue certificates for licence eligibility from 1 June 2024 onwards. MoRTH has also released a few conditions for such prospective private driving institutes to follow.
· Land Requirement: Driving training centres must have a minimum of 1 acre of land (2 acres for four-wheeler training).
· Testing Facility: Schools must provide access to a suitable testing facility.
· Trainer Qualifications: Every trainer must have a high school diploma (or equivalent), at least 5 years of driving experience, and should be familiar with biometrics and IT systems.
· Training duration for Light Motor Vehicles (LMV): 29 hours in 4 weeks, divided into 8 hours of theory and 21 hours of practical training.
· Training duration for Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV): 38 hours in 6 weeks, divided into 8 hours of theory and 31 hours of practical training.
· These regulations ensure a high standard of education and preparation for new drivers at private training schools.
The new regulations also put focus on environmental conservation since more than 9,00,000 old government testing vehicles will be scrapped to bring down emission levels. While the penalty for speeding remains between Rs 1000 and Rs 2000, the penalty for minors has increased significantly. In case a minor is found speeding, he/she will be levied a fine of Rs 25,000.
Additionally, the vehicle owner’s registration card will be cancelled, and the minor will be ineligible for a licence until 25 years old.
The Ministry has streamlined the documentation required for a new licence. The type of vehicle (two-wheeler or four-wheeler) determines the specific documents needed. This reduces the need for physical checkups at RTOs. Applications can be submitted online or offline via the Parivahan website.
Licence-related fees & charges
• Issue of learner’s licence (Form 3) Rs 150
• Learner’s licence test fee (or repeat test): Rs 50
• Driving test fee (or repeat test): Rs 300
• Issue of driving licence: Rs 200
• Issue of International Driving Permit Rs 1000
• Addition of another vehicle class to licence Rs 500
• Endorsement or renewal of authorization for hazardous goods vehicles
• Renewal of driving licence: Rs 200
• Renewal of driving licence (after grace period) Rs 300.00 + additional fee of Rs 1,000 per year or part thereof (from the expiration of the grace period)
• Issue or renewal of licence for driving instruction school or establishment
• Issue of duplicate licence for driving instruction school/establishment: Rs 5000
• Appeal against licensing authority orders (rule 29): Rs 500
• Change of address or other particulars in driving licence Rs 200.00
According to a report in the local newspaper, in Nagpur Wazalwar Driving School has got approval to conduct a driving school whose structure as per norms is ready. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways led by Nitin Gadkari had proposed this type of system in 2015. After a lot of amendments it was brought in 2019 and in 2021 Government invited applications from private schools.
In Nagpur, Wazalwar Driving School is the only one private school that submitted an application and it got approval. The idea is — the private school will act as Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTRs), Regional Driver Training Centres (RDTCs) and DrivingTraining Centres (DTCs). The institution wishing to run such a centre must have 2-acre land for conducting tests for four-wheeler driving and one-acre for two-wheelers. The private driving training centre must possess a suitable testing facility. The trainers of these private institutions should have a high school diploma or equivalent education with 5 years of driving experience.
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