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New Delhi, April 4th – In a bid to curb the alarmingly high number of road fatalities, the Indian government has announced a comprehensive plan to address the critical shortage of trained drivers. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari revealed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday that India faces a deficit of 2.2 million skilled drivers, a major contributor to the country’s road accident crisis.
During the Question Hour, Gadkari highlighted the severe impact of inadequate training facilities, stating, “According to a World Bank report, India has a shortage of 22 lakh drivers. Many accidents and deaths occur due to untrained drivers.” He further emphasized the staggering statistic that approximately 1.8 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents annually, with a significant portion attributed to the lack of driver proficiency.
To combat this pressing issue, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has launched a substantial Rs 4,500 crore scheme. This initiative aims to establish 1,600 driving training institutes across the nation in a phased manner.
Gadkari elaborated on the project, outlining the government’s strategy to enhance driver training infrastructure. “The ministry has started a Rs 4,500 crore scheme to establish driving training institutes nationwide. The initiative is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities. These institutes will create over 60 lakh jobs,” he stated.
The government has called upon all states and Union Territories (UTs) to submit proposals for setting up various categories of training centres, including:
- Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs)
- Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs)
- Driving Training Centres (DTCs)
The government hopes that this ambitious project will drastically reduce the number of accidents caused by untrained drivers, thereby saving thousands of lives and improving road safety across India.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the Union Transport Minister and publicly available reports. The accuracy and completeness of the information are based on the sources cited. The impact of the government’s initiative on reducing road accidents is subject to implementation and various other factors.
