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The institutes will offer high quality driving training,
using driving simulators, class room instruction and practical training.
Once fully operational, the Driving Training Institutes will be able to
train around 10,000 learners in first phase including women, youth and the
underprivileged, annually. This driving training initiative would also help
in enhancing employability of youth in Punjab. MSIL will undertake
management of the Driving Training Institutes. It will provide driving
simulators, training cars (with dual control accessories) and course
curriculum. The Company will invest around Rs 3 crore in a phased manner
under this CSR program.
To mark this partnership, an MoU was signed today
between Mr. Ashwini Kumar, State Transport Commissioner, Government of
Punjab & Mr. RS Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales,
Maruti Suzuki India Limited.
On the occasion Mr. Anurag Agarwal, Secretary,
Transport, Government of Punjab said, “We are delighted to partner
with the country’s leading carmaker on the critical subject of Road Safety.
We will benefit from Maruti Suzuki’s vast experience and expertise in this
area. Over 10,000 learners initially are expected to benefit from the state
of the art facilities of Driving Training Institutes spread in
Punjab."
Highlighting the initiative, Mr. RS Kalsi, Executive
Director, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki 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. We are very happy to partner
with the Punjab Government on this unique and pioneering initiative.”
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.
Nearly 2.5 million trained so far by MSIL.
Maruti Suzuki, started its safe driving initiative with
Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) in partnership with Delhi
Government in the year 2000. Maruti Suzuki 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.
Many trainees find gainful employment after completing
their training program. Nearly 5000 tribal youth in Gujarat, many of them
landless workers, have found jobs or turned successful entrepreneurs after
being trained in the residential program at IDTR, Vadodara, run by Maruti
Suzuki in partnership with Gujarat government.
Maruti Suzuki also collaborates with its dealers who
manage and operate nearly 340 Maruti Driving Schools (MDS) across the
country. MDS are neighbourhood driving schools that are equipped with
driving simulators and offer a mix of class-room and practical training by
trained instructors (including women). Over half the people trained at MDS
are women.
The IDTRs and MDS have trained nearly 2.5 Mn people in
safe driving practices in 15 years
The IDTRs and MDS also design customized programs for
corporate employees, women and police and paramilitary personnel to expand
the reach of safe driving practices. Under its Safe Driving initiative,
Maruti Suzuki also has “Train the Trainer” program for driving instructors
that helps to multiply the impact.
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