In what can be said as a big reform in the transport sector, the driving licence certification process has been entrusted to private agencies, sparing the youth from the ordeal of making rounds to the Regional Transport Office (RTO). All one has to do is complete the required training at a recognised driving school and obtain a certificate upon production of which the RTO will issue a driving licence.

Now, the entire process has been simplified with the Central government changing the requirements for obtaining a driving licence. The driving test is no longer required under the Driving Licence New Rules 2022. The Driving Licence New Rules 2022 will come into force from July 1, allowing only private driving schools to be operated under the supervision of the State Transport Authority or the Central government. 

The driving licences issued after certification by these training centres are valid for a period of five years. Subsequently, the driving licence must be renewed with the government. According to the Department of Roads and Transport regulations, anyone who has passed the exam at a State-accredited driving training centre is exempt from taking the driving test at the RTO when applying for a driver’s licence.

For two and four-wheeler training schools, a minimum of 1 acre of land is required. Two acres of land is needed for heavy vehicle training. The trainer should have a high school diploma and at least five years of driving experience. The centre should have information technology and a biometric system.

The light vehicle training will last 29 hours and must be completed within four weeks. It will be divided into two sections - theory and practice. While the theory is taught in eight hours, practicals are done in 21 hours. The training duration for medium and heavy motor vehicles will be 38 hours and must be completed within six weeks. Theory classes are eight hours in duration and the practicals are for 31 hours.

Speaking to Hello Vizag, some of the senior officials of the Transport department said that the new driving licence rules of the Central government are a good initiative and if the candidate undergoes training at a recognised driving school it is enough to issue a driving licence. Many opined that if the government prescribes the fee then it would be good. However no one has applied so far as strict conditions are being mentioned in the new Driving Licence New Rules 2022, he added.

Proprietors of the driving schools who have trained thousands of people to perfection said the government's move is good but arranging the required setup for training is a costly affair. They also said that the Transport department should be strict in following the rules framed by the government as a few reputed driving schools are not training drivers properly.