Jan 7- Center has accepted Goa’s demand for setting up Driving Training Centres (DTCs) in the state and also amending MVA to increase expired driving licence renewal period to 2 years, informed Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho. He was speaking after attending the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari chaired meeting of Council of Transport Ministers from states across the country. Driving Training Centres (DTC) in India are established under Central Government schemes to provide structured driver training for private and commercial drivers, focusing on safe and skilled driving practices. Goa did not have a DTC so far as only districts with over 20 lakh population were eligible for the scheme, however Center has agreed to relax the requirement on Goa’s request, said Mauvin. He also said that Center has agreed to Goa’s demand to amend Section 15(4) of the Motor Vehicles Act to extend the renewal period of expired licences to 2 years as against the present one year period. As per the existing rules, if an application for a driving license renewal is made more than one year after the license has expired, the applicant has to pass the driving competence test all over again. Mauvin opined that extension of the period will benefit people who work aboard. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate two key projects during his visit to the state on Jan 21- 2nd loop connecting Mormugao Harbour to the highway and the Dabolim-Bogmalo Junction to Queeny Nagar flyover, Mauvin further informed.
