LUCKNOW, Sept. 28 -- Applicants seeking driving licences have questioned the need to travel to a remote Accredited Driving Training Centre (ADTC) in Udetkhera area of Kakori's Maunda village for driving tests, citing poor connectivity and concerns over accessibility for women and persons with disabilities. The ADTC, located nearly 20 km from the city through stretches of villages, orchards and relatively isolated roads, is now the designated centre for driving tests since it became functional on September 14. Applicants said the journey could be particularly difficult for those unfamiliar with the area, with limited public transport and little assistance available along some stretches. Khushboo, a resident of Indiranagar who appeared for her test on September 22, said she first had to travel to the RTO office for scrutiny and photography before travelling to the ADTC for the test. "It took nearly two hours to reach the centre from home. I managed to find the route with the help of a map, but the journey was difficult. The roads are poor and the route passes through orchards and villages. There was hardly anyone around to ask for directions," she said. Suresh Thapa, an applicant's guardian, said the distance and isolated stretches could pose problems if a vehicle breaks down or an applicant faces an emergency. "If something goes wrong on the way, it is difficult to find someone to seek help from. The authorities need to consider how women and persons with disabilities will reach such a location," he said. They also questioned the rationale for shifting all driving tests to the ADTC when a test track is already available at the Transport Nagar RTO office. Applicants said the ADTC was primarily established to provide driving training and that those who fail the test twice could instead be referred there for training, as per the system being discussed. "There is already a test track at the RTO office. If the purpose of the ADTC is training, applicants who repeatedly fail the test could be sent there for training instead of requiring everyone to travel there," said applicant Ram Kumar Yadav. Decline in test registrations Data from the ADTC indicates a decline in the number of applicants registering for tests since the new arrangement began. The figures show registrations falling from 31 on September 14 to 12 on September 21. The number of applicants passing both two- and four-wheeler tests also remained low on most days. Applicants said the government's stated objective of making licence services more accessible should also take into account the location and connectivity of testing centres. The transport department's response to the concerns raised by applicants was awaited....