The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has granted in-principle approval for the establishment of a new Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in Maharashtra's Thane district. This initiative aims to strengthen driver training infrastructure and promote road safety across the state, officials announced.
Fourth IDTR in Maharashtra
This will be the fourth IDTR approved in Maharashtra, following those in Pune, Nagpur, and Latur. The proposed institute will be located at Bapsai village in Kalyan taluka of Thane and will operate under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Facilities and Objectives
The institute is expected to offer advanced driver training, research facilities, and skill development programmes for both commercial and private vehicle operators. It aims to improve driving standards and road safety awareness through structured training.
Cost and Funding
According to the ministry's communication, the approved cost of the IDTR is Rs 18.42 crore. The Union government will contribute Rs 17.25 crore, while the private partner, Bhaskarrao Mahajan Samajik Shaikshanik Va Sanskrutik Sanstha (Bhaskarrao Mahajan Social, Educational, and Cultural Organisation), will bear the remaining Rs 1.17 crore.
Location and Rationale
A state government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI that Maharashtra submitted a proposal for the IDTR earlier this year. The institute will be situated close to the Kalyan-Ahilyanagar Highway, which has witnessed numerous serious crashes with high fatalities. It is also near the JNPT spur of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the starting point of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg. The IDTR falls under the 15th Finance Commission cycle.
Accident Data
Just days after the ministry's approval, 11 people died at Rayate village, a few kilometres from Bapsai, when a speeding taxi collided with a cement mixer truck on April 13, 2026. On Tuesday, four persons were killed and three injured near Vaishakhare village on the same highway in a head-on collision between a state transport bus and an SUV. According to transport department data, Maharashtra recorded 15,549 deaths in 36,450 accidents in 2025, and from January 1 to March 31, 2026, 3,858 people died in 9,259 accidents.
Next Steps
The ministry has requested the state government to submit land hypothecation documents and society registration papers required for overseeing the construction and operation of the institute before issuing the final sanction order.
