The implementation of new driving licence rules in Hyderabad has encountered significant obstacles due to the high cost of land, according to local driving school owners and association members. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced changes that allow new drivers to take tests at any accredited private driving school instead of the Regional Transport Office (RTO).
These new regulations, intended to take effect on June 1, require driving schools to possess at least one acre of land to construct test tracks, along with the necessary infrastructure and qualified personnel. Despite the new rules, by June 13, the Transport Department had not received a single application from private trainers to establish accredited Driving Training Centres (DTC). The high cost of acquiring large land parcels in urban areas is a significant barrier to compliance with the new norms.
Currently, Hyderabad hosts approximately 300 certified light motor vehicle driving schools. However, reports indicate that over 1,000 schools operate without registration. Driving school owners, predominantly from lower-middle income groups, find the financial burden of purchasing extensive land areas particularly challenging. Sama Srikanth Reddy, General Secretary of the Telangana Driving School Association (TDSA), and B. Swamy, President of the Telangana LMV Motor Driving School Owner’s Welfare Association, have voiced concerns about the economic feasibility of the new regulations. They assert that the majority of driving school proprietors cannot afford to invest in the required land, especially in the city’s urban localities.
The new regulations were aimed at decentralising the testing process to reduce congestion at RTOs and enhance the efficiency of the licensing system. However, the high costs associated with land acquisition have stalled progress, leaving the intended reforms in limbo. The situation calls for a reassessment of the new driving licence rules and their implementation strategy. Without addressing the financial constraints faced by driving school owners, the goal of improving the licensing process through private DTCs remains unattainable. Policymakers may need to consider alternative solutions or support mechanisms to facilitate the establishment of accredited driving centres, ensuring that the benefits of the new regulations can be fully realised.
An instructor who runs a motor driving school in Kundanbagh Colony, Begumpet, said, “If we (the owners) had this much money, why would we purchase cars on finance and pay the EMIs in addition to the rent of offices? What is left after that is similar to the salary of a regular driver Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000.” Meanwhile, stakeholders believe it is difficult for many driving school owners to obtain an acre of land for driving tracks, either in the city or on the outskirts, due to the high land rates.
