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Maruti Suzuki to set up Driving Training
Centre in partnership with Uttarakhand government |
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| New Delhi, December 20, 2008 |
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New Delhi, December
20th, 2008: In yet another significant initiative towards `Road Safety'
car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited today signed an MoU with
Government of Uttarakhand to set up, manage and run Uttarakhand's first
and only Motor Driving Institute (UMDI) at Jhajra village in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
The MoU was signed by Mr Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO,
Maruti Suzuki India Limited and Dr Umakant Panwar, Transport Secretary,
Government of Uttarakhand, in the presence of the Chief Minister Maj.
Gen. (Retd.) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, Chief Minister Uttarakhand, Mr
Banshidhar Bhagat, State Transport Minister and Senior State government
officials and dignitaries.
The Uttarakhand Motor Driving Institute is the flagship corporate
social responsibility initiative of Maruti Suzuki that works on the
principle of public private partnership and has seen active involvement
of many State Governments in recent years.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Bhuwan
Chandra Khanduri, Chief Minister Uttarakhand said, "Studies have
indicated that driver's fault is one of the main causes of road
accidents with proper driving training, I am sure such road accidents
can be reduced. We have chosen Maruti Suzuki as they are renowned and
have vast experience in running such training institutes. I am sure this
institute will help reduce road accidents."
On the occasion Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi Managing Director and CEO, Maruti
Suzuki said, "We feel proud to be associated with Government of
Uttarakhand for this unique initiative. Road safety is our flagship CSR
initiative and we are happy to have a partner in Uttarakhand Government
in this endeavor. As a subject, Road Safety is very vast and requires
many more hands. It requires an integrated approach of different
stakeholders such as public, vehicle manufacturers, government, civil
society etc. Inculcating Safer Driving practices through different
formats like IDTR's and Maruti Driving Schools is a small step in that
direction by Maruti Suzuki. I am confident our initiatives towards road
safety will have an impact on the society and make the roads safer".
"I am doubly excited that this project would also enhance
employability of unemployed youth." he added.
In addition to imparting motor driving skills and technical training to
the public, UMDI Uttarakhand would also assist, advice and support the
State Government in activities that contribute to safety on roads and
facilitate in improving the transport system in the State. Spread over
sprawling four hectares the state-of the-art facility would also offer
residential accommodation to the trainees. Located on Chakrata Road, the
institute will offer class room training as well as test tracks for
enhancing driving skills. Maruti Suzuki will bring in advanced training
module that is based on international lines. An advanced Driving
Simulator will help impart training in safe environment.
This is Maruti Suzuki's sixth such initiative after success of two
Institutes at Delhi, closely followed by two institutes in Haryana and a
similar initiative in Gujarat. While the company's Delhi institutes are
operational, the Haryana and Gujarat institutes are in advanced stages
of readiness and will be formally opened in coming weeks.
Road Safety & Maruti Suzuki
Maruti Suzuki has been playing a leading role for many years now in
promoting road safety and safe driving in the country. The first IDTR
was started in 2000 at Delhi with the state government.
While the boom in the auto sector and improved state and national
highways are encouraging developments, increased vehicular congestion
have become subjects of concern. Many State Governments therefore, have
expressed the need of a facility that trains people scientifically and
promotes Safe Driving.
Institute of Driving Training and Research
Today, Maruti Suzuki manages two Institute of Driving Training &
Research (IDTR) in Delhi in collaboration with the state transport
department of the Delhi Government. In addition, the company runs 47
Maruti Driving Schools across country with its dealer partners.
The first major effort in promoting road safety was in the year 2000
when Delhi Government invited Maruti to manage the Institute of Driving
Training and Research (IDTR) and start driving training courses. Maruti
introduced training facilities and infrastructure including world-class
driving test tracks, advanced computer simulators and training modules
as per international standards at the institute which is spread over an
area of 14.6 acre. Regular research in road safety and safe driving was
also started at the institute. In 2006, the second IDTR was set up to
promote road safety by primarily targeting non-commercial drivers and
impart driving training to them. This institute is also equipped with
the same facilities and infrastructure as made available in the first
IDTR.
The pioneering work and infrastructure of the IDTRs has caught the
attention of the government and general public alike. Today, several
government departments and agencies have made it mandatory for their
drivers to undergo periodic skill training and evaluation at IDTR. Delhi
Government has laid down that commercial vehicle drivers seeking to
renew their driving licence need a certification. So far, the first IDTR
at Loni, Wazirabad, (North Delhi) has trained and evaluated about
400,000 people, predominantly commercial drivers.
Maruti Driving Schools
Maruti has also involved its dealers across country in a big way in
promoting road safety and safe driving. In collaboration with them, the
company has set up 47 Maruti Driving Schools in 43 different
locations across the country. These schools are equipped with the world
class, state of the art driving simulators. Over 41,000 people have been
trained so far of which 50% are women learners. |
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