'New generation of skilled drivers': This drivers' training institute in Sorkha will teach you road discipline

Noida: The state govt has decided to set up a drivers' training and research institute in Sorkha village. Officials said the institute, to be built near Sector 115, was part of the govt's plan to reduce road accidents and create "a new generation of skilled drivers".

Transport commissioner BN Singh announced the project during a workshop on ‘Mission Karmayogi and Road Safety' at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida. The institute, he said, will be modelled on similar institutes in Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan and Wazirabad, which operate in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki.

"This centre will not only train drivers and officials but also conduct awareness programmes for the general public," Singh said, emphasising the larger plan to create safer roads. "The facility will feature world-class infrastructure and qualified trainers, focusing on latest technologies related to licenses, vehicle fitness, and road safety rule."

The institute in Noida is part of a larger initiative to establish nine model institutes across the state, with similar facilities planned for Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur Nagar, Shahjahanpur, and Prayagraj. The Noida administration has already agreed to allot 20 acres of govt land for the Sorkha project. Singh highlighted the role of technology in creating safe roads, describing it as a "social and national priority". "The govt is implementing an intelligent traffic management system, (ITMS) using artificial intelligence, to track violations and manage traffic real-time. This aims to reduce congestion on key stretches and bring down accidents too," he added.

Additional chief secretary L Venkateshwar Lu insisted that road safety was a collective responsibility. "Every section of society, especially the youth and teachers, must come forward. Appointing road safety nodal teachers in schools will be a positive step that can play a crucial role in making children aware about road discipline," he said.