New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Transport Department of the Bihar government to automate five driving test tracks in the state. The agreement was signed in the presence of Sheela Kumari, Bihar Transport Minister, and Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Bihar. IAS Navin Kumar, State Transport Commissioner, and Tarun Agarwal, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Maruti Suzuki, were also present at the signing ceremony.
As per the official statement by Maruti Suzuki, these automated tracks will be built in Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Purnia, and Saran. The initiative is a part of Maruti Suzuki’s ongoing efforts to enhance road safety through its CSR projects. The company has already automated 27 driving test tracks across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Bihar and aims to increase the total number to 44 across India.
The Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs), as named by the company, will be utilized for both two-wheelers and Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving license tests. Through this project, Maruti Suzuki and the Bihar state government wish to eliminate the need for human intervention in the evaluation of license applications to ensure a more transparent, comprehensive, and efficient process. The automated systems will make the tests more standardized and aligned with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) and provide automated results.
Stressing the significance of this innovation, Sheela Kumari stated that ADTTs will ensure that only skilled drivers get a driving license, making roads safer for everyone. The government had previously automated driving test tracks in Patna and Aurangabad which resulted in drivers coming better prepared for the license testing.
Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki highlighted the company’s long-established collaboration with the government of Bihar which began with the setting up of the state’s first Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) in Aurangabad. He thanked the Government of Bihar for further entrusting the company with this road safety project. He further added, “Maruti Suzuki has been steadfast in its commitment to the 5 pillars of road safety – engineering, education, evaluation, enforcement, and emergency care. Automated driving license testing is a vital component of the ‘evaluation’ process. Equipped with high-definition cameras and an integrated IT system, ADTTs guarantee a comprehensive, efficient, and transparent testing process ensuring that only skilled drivers are awarded licenses.”
APAC News Analysis:
The alarming statistics from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Annual Report on Road Accidents in India-2022, which reported 4,61,312 road accidents and 1,68,491 fatalities, underscore the critical need for responsible driving and other transformative road safety measures.
Hence, this industry-government partnership between Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) and the Bihar government is a step in the right direction to enhance road safety by modernizing the license evaluation process and promoting skilled and responsible driving.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Purnia, and Saran in this ambitious endeavor marks an equitable push toward expanding technological advancements to smaller cities, reflecting the company’s and government’s inclusive approach to sustainable development. This partnership shows how public-private collaboration can pave the way for scalable innovations that simultaneously address societal challenges while also promoting corporate accountability.
