
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurates two Automated Driving Test Tracks by Maruti Suzuki
In a significant move to enhance road safety in Uttarakhand, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) in Haridwar and Rishikesh set up by Maruti Suzuki under its CSR initiative.
ADTTs are equipped with high-definition cameras and integrated IT systems to conduct driving license evaluations without human intervention. This technology ensures a more comprehensive, efficient, and transparent testing process for driving license seekers. Evaluation at ADTTs is done in line with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).
Both these new ADTTs will cater to driving license testing for Light Motor Vehicle (LMV), and 2- wheelers. In addition to automation of these two ADTTs, Maruti Suzuki operates an ADTT in Dehradun, since 2019. This facility won accolades from the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand for Excellence and Good Governance in 2019-2020.
Dedicating the facility to the state, Brijesh Kumar Sant (IAS), Secretary Transport, Uttarakhand Government, said, 'We are committed to making Uttarakhand's roads safer, and Maruti Suzuki's ADTTs are an important enabler in this direction. Our association with Maruti Suzuki goes back to 2009, when the Institute of Driving and Traffic Research was established in Dehradun. With the comprehensive evaluation at ADTTs, we can ensure that only skilled drivers get a driving license. Another state-run road safety initiative where we work with Maruti Suzuki is refresher training for commercial drivers before Char Dham yatra (holy pilgrimage). I also compliment the Company for steering this training program, which helps prepare drivers for yatra route.'
Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, 'We thank the Uttarakhand Government for their continued association with Maruti Suzuki. Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand is rapidly progressing. One of the key growth drivers for the state is tourism. Efficient and skilled drivers are needed to boost tourism and contribute to safer roads. Our Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) can play a vital role to achieve this goal by ensuring that only skilled and competent drivers receive a license through a 100% computerized, transparent, and efficient testing process.'
He added, 'Every year, just before the onset of Char Dham yatra (holy pilgrimage), we undertake a refresher training for commercial drivers in Uttarakhand. This prepares the drivers for hilly terrains on yatra route. This training is one of the qualifiers for mandatory Green Card required for all commercial drivers during the yatra. This year, we plan to cover about 11,000 drivers in the refresher driving training at IDTRs.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Maruti says no immediate impact from China rare earth magnet curbs
Maruti Suzuki , India's top-selling carmaker, said on Monday there was no immediate production impact from China's export curbs on rare earth magnets, a key component, and that it was in talks with the government on the matter. Auto industry manufacturers told government officials last week that production could stall within days due to the curbs, Reuters reported. These companies were worried by the complexity of a new import process requiring approval from Indian and Chinese officials as well as documents such as end-use certificates stating the magnets are not for military purposes. When asked how many weeks of inventory Maruti has before production would be impacted, the automaker said it has submitted an import application and it would be difficult to give "very specific details" until it receives a response. "It is not a restriction. It is an endorsement of end use. In case there is an issue, we will ... inform all our stakeholders, including the stock exchange," Rahul Bharti, senior executive director, corporate affairs, told reporters. However, at an industry meeting with India's heavy industries ministry last week, Maruti said it might be forced to stop production of one of its car models in early June if the magnet issue is not resolved soon, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. China controls over 90% of global processing capacity for the magnets, used in fields as varied as automobiles, home appliances and clean energy. It enacted measures in April requiring companies to obtain import permits. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has told Modi's officials that inventories at parts makers may run out by the end of May, and starting early in June, auto industry production is expected to come to a "grinding halt." India's heavy industries minister, HD Kumaraswamy, told reporters separately on Monday that the government was preparing to send a delegation of industry executives to China in 2-3 weeks to discuss the issue with authorities there. The concerns come as carmakers are gearing up to launch new EVs in the country as they grapple with slowing sales of gasoline models. Maruti, which plans to launch its first EV in India this year - an electric SUV called the e Vitara - does not see any "material impact" on the car's launch timeline because of the magnet issue, Bharti said.


Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Stuck in first gear: Take a close look at what ails car sales in India
For decades, small cars drove India's market for passenger vehicles. But this has changed in recent years. So much so that our largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, has rung an alarm bell. A senior executive for marketing and sales, Partho Banerjee, has said a sales revival in this segment would need incentives. True, lower on-road prices would make small cars more affordable for users of two-wheelers looking to upgrade. By one reported estimate, from close to a million cars priced under ₹5 lakh a decade ago, this segment has seen unit sales shrink to a thin slice of a market that saw as many as 4.3 million passenger vehicles roll onto Indian roads in 2024. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Auto dispatches: Still at a crawl This drastic drop in the offtake of entry level cars also explains a plateau that overall numbers might be at risk of reaching. Last year's market was only some 4% larger than it was in 2023. While the Indian economy's recovery from the pandemic saw the sales of pricier four-wheelers surge, low-priced cars trailed off. No doubt, some first-time buyers would have opted directly for bigger vehicles, but would-be new users have apparently turned scarce—with move-ups among existing car users acting as the passenger car market's driving force. To the extent that this hints of premature market saturation, it's a cause for concern. India's penetration of cars, as per a recent Moody's report, is just 44 per 1,000 people, while China's is above 250. Also Read: Maruti, Hero among automakers boosting earnings with exports as domestic demand remains on shaky ground Yet, the case for a public subsidy to aid small car purchases is easily dismissed. For one, cars are not a necessity, even if they're no longer a luxury except at the market's upper end. For another, unlike electric vehicles and metro systems, no public cause warrants such state support. Importantly, state intervention of this kind tends to distort markets and is therefore best avoided. Public funds can be put to better use if the country's aim is to ease how people get around. At most, what may hold merit is the idea of a tax cut as a stimulus for this shrunk segment; big or small, cars in India remain relatively overtaxed by global standards. Even so, what should catch the attention of policymakers is not Maruti Suzuki's plea, but what it reveals of a key aspect of the auto sector's dynamics. A big point to note is the bigger price leap it now takes for a two-wheeler user to buy a car. Thanks to tighter safety and emission standards, plus a costlier insurance mandate, on-road prices have risen in recent years, leaving large numbers priced out; all cars must have at least six airbags and meet stiff exhaust norms, while insurance payments are steep. To be sure, two-wheelers are costlier too, but the gap is wide. Other reasons have also been identified for weak demand at this level. The rise of cab-hailing apps has reduced urban dependence on cars, for example, even as their value as status symbols may have declined among Gen Z cohorts. Also Read: Cutting taxes on small cars is a quick fix that ignores the elephant in the room Still, it is hard to get away from the impact of uneven prosperity on the Indian market for cars. Unlike earlier phases of rapid economic growth, enlarged incomes are showing up mostly in upper-end sales charts. Similar trends are visible in other consumer-durable markets too. Smartphone sales, for instance, stood at 151 million in 2024, according to IDC, still below the 2021 level of 161 million, even though Apple, a premium brand, has enlarged its share of this pie. If these trends go on, they will pose hurdles for industrial expansion. To sustain itself, the economy needs to emerge more evenly.


Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Book HSRP appointment before June 16, else risk denial of key services
Nagpur: Despite repeated directives from the Maharashtra transport commissioner, a majority of vehicle owners in Nagpur are yet to install High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on vehicles registered before April 1, 2019. Now, the state transport department has warned that vehicle owners who have not fitted the HSRP plates will be denied key services after June 16. Vehicle owners who have booked appointment for HSRP fitment before this date have been exempted. On June 2, transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar issued a order directing all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in the state to stop processing ownership transfers, address change in registration certificates, hypothecation entries and removals, duplicate RC issuance, vehicle modification entries, and NOCs for vehicles that are not fitted with HSRP. "Only those vehicle owners who have a valid appointment for HSRP installation will be exempted. Renewal of fitness certificates for transport vehicles and registration certificate renewals for private vehicles are currently not included in this restriction," the order stated. HSRP installation was made mandatory under Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), 1989. The new number plates come with unique serial numbers, holograms and are tamper-proof, ensuring better tracking and security. However, several issues are hampering compliance. Many motorists complain about the cumbersome online appointment procedure and a long waiting list at dealer fitment centres. There are also reports of some dealers charging exorbitant fees, despite clear instructions that no additional charges should be levied. Furthermore, in violation of norms, some dealers are affixing the plates using screws instead of the mandatory permanent fixtures. The transport department has also clarified that imitation HSRP plates — those that merely display holograms, the 'IND' mark, or words like 'INDIA'— will not be considered valid unless they are issued by an authorised manufacturer and updated on the VAHAN portal. Owners of such vehicles risk being fined Rs1,000 under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Out of the 16.71 lakh vehicles registered in Nagpur district before April 1, 2019, only around 21.6% are fitted with valid HSRPs. Among the three RTOs in the district, the Nagpur Rural RTO has recorded the highest compliance so far, with 1.20 lakh out of 5.62 lakh vehicles fitted with the new plates. Officials expressed concern over the widespread disregard for the regulation and indicated that there will be strict enforcement of the order after June 16. Vehicle owners who fail to comply risk not just monetary penalties but also being barred from essential vehicle-related services.