In response to numerous complaints and concerns raised by citizens, the Pune Regional Transport Officer (RTO) has taken decisive action against the alarming number of illegal driving schools operating in the city. The State Transport Department has issued a Government Resolutions (GR) directive, prompting strict measures to be taken against the violators. It has been reported that approximately 900 illegal driving schools are currently operational in Pune, particularly in the suburbs.
The RTO authorities have identified that out of these, only 450 driving schools are legitimate, legal establishments with proper accreditation. However, investigations revealed that many of these schools were operating in locations different from their official registered addresses.
State Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar emphasized the need to curb the use of vehicles not registered by driving schools during training sessions. The directive calls for a thorough crackdown on illegal driving schools across all districts, with a mandate for strict action and the submission of a compliance report to the transport department.
Pune Regional Transport Officer Sanjeev Bhor commented, “In accordance with the transport department’s directives, we have initiated action against the illegal driving schools, and a special squad has been instituted to address this issue.”
Mahek Suryavanshi, who runs a licensed driving school, expressed concerns about the safety implications of illegal operators. “Authorized driving school operators follow all the guidelines issued by the RTO, including the use of specially modified vehicles for training purposes. However, illegal driving school operators neglect rules, keep fees low, and jeopardize the lives of citizens with substandard and inadequate training,” he alleged.
