Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to set up, manage and run Institute of Driving Training and Traffic Research (IDTR) at Venkatachalam village in Darsi, Prakasham district of the state.
The MoU was signed by N. Balasubramanyam, Transport Commissioner, State of Andhra Pradesh and Mahesh Rajoria, Assistant Vice President (Driving Training), MSIL in the presence of dignitaries from Government of Andhra Pradesh and Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).
The infrastructure spread across 20 acres of land which will be provided by the Andhra Pradesh Government, while the automobile manufacturer will run and manage the institute. The facility will be built as per the MoRTH guidelines and shall consist of an institute building, a hostel and training tracks with all the required formation. The infrastructure is expected to be completed by 2018.
Set up under the Public-private partnership (PPP) model, this will be automobile manufacturer’s first IDTR in South India. Maruti Suzuki will undertake the training on lines of the other IDTRs including All Gujarat Institute of Driving, Technical Training and Research (AGIDTTR), Vadodara. The Company plans to collaborate with the various government departments to promote road safety and driving as an employment opportunity among the tribal youth of Andhra Pradesh. The main focus is to make people employable hence additional training in personality, hygiene, courtesy and communication is imparted to the youth. The company will also advise and support the government for research on matters related to road safety, driving and any other matter which contribute to safety on roads and facilitate in improving the transport system in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahesh Rajoria, Assistant Vice President (Driving Training), Maruti Suzuki, said that the inception of Driving Training and Traffic Research Institutes was with an aim to upscale professional driver training and lay down the ground rules for safe driving. The company has been working on this front for over a decade now. He is confident that their experience in this field of road safety will add immense value to this new facility.