The chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar today inaugurated the state’s first Institute of Driving Training and Traffic Research (IDTR). The institute is set up in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki India.

The IDTR will set standards for quality driving training and also impart driving training, theoretical and practical, to aspiring and existing drivers. The institute will focus on the ‘Train-the-Trainer’ model, to have a multiplier effect and upgrade the driving skills of a larger number of people. Maruti already manages six IDTRs across India, in partnership with state governments, as part of its CSR efforts to promote road safety and bring down fatalities.

The IDTR has been set up under the Public Private Partnership mode, between the government of Bihar and Maruti Suzuki India, and with guidance and support from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The government has provided the land and building, while Maruti will manage and run the facility. The company has set up modern class rooms, scientifically designed driving tracks and provided driving simulators, vehicles and qualified trainers. This IDTR spread across 15 acres will also host a 150-seater auditorium, a library, laboratory and a hostel to accommodate 80 trainees. IDTR will follow MSIL’s exhaustive course curriculum, designed to include all critical aspects of driving training and traffic research.

In addition to imparting driving training, the company will support the government in conducting road safety awareness programmes for people and school children in the state.

At IDTRs, driving is taught using scientifically designed test tracks and driving simulators. Customised training material, including films, are used for classroom training. Apart from the IDTR in Aurangabad, Bihar, Maruti manages IDTRs in Delhi (2), Haryana (2), Uttarakhand (1) and Gujarat (1).