Maruti Suzuki India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chhattisgarh Transport Department to set up a new Institute of Driving & Traffic Research (IDTR) at Naya Raipur, the state capital.

The MoU was signed by O P Pal, additional commissioner of transport & joint secretary, government of Chhattisgarh and Mahesh Rajoria, associate vice-president - Driving Training, Maruti Suzuki India.

Commenting on the new IDTR, Rajoria said, “Road safety is one of the key areas of intervention under CSR. As a carmaker, it is also our prime responsibility to create awareness and instil safe driving habits among car users. We are happy that the Chattisgarh government has chosen Maruti Suzuki as their partner for this initiative. We hope that the people of Chattisgarh make good use of this facility for their benefit.”

As per the MoU, the Chattisgarh government will provide the land and infrastructure for the project, while Maruti Suzuki, which has been imparting safe driving training for over 16 years, will manage and run the facility. Maruti Suzuki will provide training equipment – vehicles and simulators – and skilled trainers.

The main objective of the IDTR will be to promote road safety in Chhattisgarh through awareness, education, and training amongst road users. Maruti Suzuki will also conduct refresher courses for heavy motor vehicle drivers, commercial vehicle drivers and drivers of vehicles carrying hazardous goods. It will also organise road safety awareness campaigns for children.

The driving training program comprises behavioural aspects, defensive driving, traffic rules and regulations, emergency handling, fuel conservation, pollution, as well as social topics like alcoholism, AIDS and TB, among others.

Maruti Suzuki India, in association with the government of Delhi, set up the first IDTR in the year 2000 as a public-private partnership. Following its success, many state governments came forward with a proposal to set an IDTR. Today, the carmaker manages six IDTRs – two each in Delhi and Haryana, and one each in Uttarakhand and Gujarat. Thus far, it has trained over 11 lakh commercial drivers at its facilities.