Maruti to manage 32 driver training institutes in Punjab

Maruti Suzuki will team up with the Punjab government to manage and run 32 Driving Training Institutes in the state. This initiative aims at train around 10,000 learners in the first phase including women, youth and the underprivileged, annually.

The company will undertake management of the Driving Training Institutes by providing driving simulators, training cars (with dual control accessories) and course curriculum. It will invest around Rs 3 crore in a phased manner under this CSR programme.

Maruti signed an MoU with the state represented by Ashwini Kumar, state transport commissioner, Punjab and Maruti Suzuki by RS Kalsi, ED, marketing & sales. Kalsi said, “India needs high-quality training in safe driving on a massive scale. Partnerships will help us achieve the scale. All our existing safe driving initiatives like IDTRs or MDS are shining examples of successful partnerships. Through collaborative approach we have touched nearly 2.5 million people, but realise that this is only a drop in the ocean.”

The Driving Training Institutes will be located near automated driving test tracks which will be used by RTOs to conduct driving tests for license seekers. Maruti says it has trained nearly 2.5 million people.

Maruti kicked off its safe driving initiative with Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) in partnership with Delhi Government in 2000. It currently manages six IDTRs including two in NCR and one each in Dehradun, Vadodara, Rohtak and Bahadurgarh, in partnership with state governments. These institutes offer learner and refresher courses, including to commercial vehicle drivers. In addition, Maruti also collaborates with its dealers who manage and operate nearly 340 Maruti Driving Schools (MDS) across the country.