Ranchi: State govt will set up the first Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in Jamshedpur to train and certify commercial drivers, a move aimed at improving road safety and creating employment opportunities, officials said.The institute, estimated to cost Rs 22.30 crore, will come up on around 12 acres under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The transport department signed an MoU with Tata Motors for the institute at Project Building here on Tuesday in the presence of chief minister Hemant Soren.“The institute will be owned by the state govt, while Tata Motors will use its technical expertise to conduct training,” transport secretary Rajiv Ranjan said.The proposed facility will have tracks replicating different road networks, driving simulators and provisions for training under both daytime and night-time conditions. It will also have separate hostels with 50 beds for men and 25 for women.Ranjan said the course would comprise 30 hours of instruction, including 15 hours of practical training. The transport department is also developing an online portal to connect certified drivers with prospective employers. Trained drivers will be able to register on the platform and access job opportunities across states, potentially helping them secure better pay.Soren said Jharkhand’s extensive mining and industrial operations created a long-standing need for a dedicated commercial driver training facility. “I was thinking about such an institute for the past six to seven years, but the plan could not materialise for various reasons,” he said, welcoming Tata Motors’ participation in the project.Ranjan said that central norms envisage one IDTR for a population of around 3 crore, regional driving training centres for populations of up to 1 crore and district-level facilities for every 10 lakh people. “Plans are being prepared to establish such centres elsewhere in Jharkhand,” he added.Tata Motors plant head Anurag Acharya said rapid changes in road engineering and automotive technology made specialised training increasingly important for commercial vehicle drivers.The initiative comes amid concerns over road safety in the state. Data tabled in Lok Sabha showed that 4,817 people died in road crashes in the state in 2025, against 1,83,382 fatalities nationwide. Hemant said improved roads had also been accompanied by rising accident numbers in several areas, reinforcing the need for professional training.
