Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive overhaul of facilities offered by the Transport Department following surprise inspections at the Vehicle Inspection Unit, District Transport Office (DTO), Heavy Motor Vehicle Training Institute and the under-construction Automated Testing Station (ATS) in Burari.
During the visit, Gupta reviewed public amenities, infrastructure and service delivery standards, stressing that government offices must provide citizens with dignified, transparent and convenient services. She directed officials to undertake extensive improvements across the facilities and ensure that all projects were completed within stipulated timelines.
Gupta first inspected the Automated Testing Station, which is being developed to conduct fitness tests for up to 80,000-90,000 commercial vehicles annually and will be capable of testing five vehicles simultaneously. Reviewing the project’s design and progress, she directed officials to maintain quality standards and incorporate an effective rainwater harvesting system to maximise groundwater recharge.
Later, while inspecting the DTO office, Gupta expressed concern over complaints from visitors regarding long waiting hours, inadequate seating and lack of basic amenities. Interacting directly with applicants appearing for driving licence tests, she instructed officials to immediately ensure seating arrangements inside the building and provide clean drinking water, fans, coolers and hygienic toilets.
“Citizens come to government offices for services and are entitled to respectful treatment and basic facilities,” she said, adding that making people wait in extreme heat was unacceptable. Gupta also directed officials to prepare a master plan for the redevelopment of the DTO complex, including modern public amenities, parking spaces, green areas, administrative offices and upgraded training infrastructure. She added that the large campus should be transformed into a model transport service centre.
Reviewing the Vehicle Inspection Unit, Gupta called for the adoption of modern technology to make vehicle fitness testing more scientific, transparent and effective to enhance road safety. At the Heavy Motor Vehicle Training Institute, she inspected driving simulators, technical laboratories and training facilities and interacted with trainees and instructors. Emphasising the role of skilled drivers in ensuring road safety, she suggested periodic independent assessments of training outcomes to further improve standards.
The CM said the Delhi Government was committed to modernising the transport sector through technology-driven services, upgraded testing centres, improved training institutions and citizen-friendly offices, assuring that all directions issued during the inspection would be implemented in a time-bound manner.
