Honda 2Wheelers India in association with the government of Haryana today flagged off the construction for the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in Karnal, Haryana. The IDTR will be developed in the current year with an investment of Rs 25 crore.

The foundation stone was laid down last year in March 2018 by the  chief minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, the facility is another important step by Honda 2Wheelers India in association with the state government to promote road safety and generate adequate traffic sense among drivers and riders.

The ground breaking ceremony of IDTR was conducted in the august presence of  Dhanpat Singh, additional chief secretary, Transport, Haryana; Pankaj Aggarwal, Transport Commissioner, Haryana; Nishant Kumar Yadav, additional deputy commissioner and ecretary, RTA Karnal, Haryana Public Service Commission; Harbhajan Singh, director, general and corporate affairs, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India; Prabhu Nagaraj, vice-president, brand and communication, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India along with other senior dignitaries from the government and administration.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Harbhajan Singh said, “We strive to be a ‘Company that Society wants to exist’. Our vision is based on the dream to build a sustainable society. We have taken various CSR initiatives in the field of health, environment, education, road safety and rural development in the state of Haryana. The purpose of IDTR facility is to impart practical training, develop sound driving habits and generate adequate traffic sense among the trained people to become more competent drivers/riders. This initiative is another step closer to attain our goal of a safer society and as a responsible corporate we will be taking several such initiatives in the future.”

The company says it will contribute in the development of the following facilities in the Institute of Driving & Training Institute, Karnal: test tracks; well maintained vehicles for training of various categories; realistic simulators for LTV, HTV, LMV, HMV and two-wheeler training with testing and result processing; classroom infrastructure with latest training aids and computerised systems; workshops; engine room; electronic display room; hostel facility; library facility and canteen facility.

IDTR will be spread in the area of 9.25 acre, which will further contribute towards 'Haryana Vision Zero'. The drivers and riders will be imparted with practical training on road safety through a self-sustainable model, which will make them more competent and safe on roads. Honda says it is supporting the Haryana government to correct the road infrastructure, remove black spots and wrong turns among other initiatives to reduce road fatalities. Working in line with the 4E concept (Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Emergency) in road safety, Honda aims to contribute in making road users more aware and the roads safer.

Along with the initiatives at IDTR, Honda 2Wheelers other CSR programmes in the state include educating women, children and youth on necessary topics, such as road safety, the company has also constructed and currently operates a Traffic Training Park in Karnal. Since it’s inauguration in October 2017, Honda has imparted road safety training to more than 31,000 individuals. Honda 2Wheelers has also provided training to more than 2,600 driving license applicants in over two months.

The OEM has provided Haryana police with 105 motorcycles to assist road victims, or to quickly respond to the elderly and women in need. In addition to that, the company has been running mobile medical vans providing free of cost health services to the community.