The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has given in-principle approval to set up a new Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in Thane. The goal is to improve driver training systems and strengthen road safety in the state.
This will be the fourth such institute in Maharashtra. The state already has IDTRs in Pune, Nagpur, and Latur. The new institute will be built at Bapsai village in Kalyan taluka. It will be developed under a public-private partnership model.
The total project cost is INR 18.42 crore. The government will provide INR 17.25 crore. The remaining INR 1.17 crore will be contributed by the private partner, Bhaskarrao Mahajan Samajik Shaikshanik Va Sanskrutik Sanstha.
The institute is expected to provide advanced driving training, which will cater to both commercial and private vehicle drivers. It will also include research facilities and skill development programmes.
The project is part of the 15th Finance Commission cycle. It focuses on improving driving standards through structured training and increasing awareness about road safety.
The location has been selected near major transport routes. It is close to the starting point of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg, the JNPT spur of the Delhi-Mumbai Motorway, and the Kalyan-Ahilyanagar Highway. This highway has reported several major accidents in recent times.
On April 13, 2026, a speeding cab collided with a cement mixer truck in Rayate village, a few kilometres from Bapsai. Eleven people were killed in the accident. Another accident took place in Vaishakhare hamlet on the same highway. Four people died and three people were injured.
Earlier this year, the Maharashtra government had submitted a proposal for setting up an IDTR in Thane district. Before issuing the final sanction order, the ministry asked the government to submit land hypothecation documents and registration papers required for managing the construction and operation of the institute.
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