NEW DELHI: Once, Punjab’s roads echoed with uncertainty—vehicles moved, but homes had fallen silent with despair.
Today, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, that silence has turned into the hum of opportunity. The Mann government’s Regional Driving Training Centre (RDTC) initiative has successfully trained 27,500 youth—a landmark step in reviving the spirit of ‘Rangla Punjab’ through skill and employment.
Since its inception in June 2023, the Punjab Transport Department, in collaboration with Ashok Leyland Limited, has been conducting comprehensive driver training programmes at the RDTC in Malerkotla.
The goal: to equip Punjab’s youth—rural and urban alike—with professional driving expertise, address the acute shortage of skilled commercial drivers, and enhance road safety standards across the state.
The government is now expanding this success story. Plans are underway to establish driving schools at 21 automated driving test tracks across Punjab. Simultaneously, the State Transport Commissioner’s office has been empaneling agencies to provide online driver training modules, ensuring that access to skill development reaches every corner of the state.
But this initiative is about more than just learning to drive. Trainees are educated in emergency response, road discipline, and passenger safety, using modern vehicles and technology to build a comprehensive understanding of road management. The training, thus, acts as a bridge—spanning the gap between unemployment and livelihood, linking thousands of youth to promising careers not only within Punjab’s transport system but also in national and global logistics sectors.
Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar emphasized that the Malerkotla RDTC embodies the government’s dedication to enhancing skill development, ensuring road safety, and elevating the dignity of drivers. “This centre is not just producing drivers—it’s producing responsible citizens who understand that every life on the road matters,” he said.
Experts say the initiative reflects a visionary approach—one that balances infrastructure development with human capital investment. Skilled drivers reduce accidents, increase efficiency, and improve the reliability of transport systems—making this programme a cornerstone for Punjab’s economic and social growth.
The message from the Mann government to Punjab’s youth is clear and hopeful:
“Your hard work and sweat will not go in vain. This soil has given you talent, and the Mann government will recognize and empower it.”
With 27,500 success stories already on the road, the Mann government’s initiative is steering Punjab toward a safer, more employable, and more prosperous future.
