A new Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) was recently inaugurated at Pune by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways. The institute has been set up on PPP basis with Tata Motors Limited acting as a private partner.
The state-of-the art facilities include spacious classrooms equipped with audio-visual facilities, a driving range for imparting driving practice on road for various maneuvers, a driving laboratory displaying aggregate and cut section models, testing laboratory for checking the physical characteristics, workshop for routine maintenance activities, a library and hostel with a capacity of 75 participants. Two driving simulators have also been installed at IDTR for imparting pollution-free training to the trainees on a range of cognitive skills to deal with complex road and traffic conditions. The IDTR proposes to train exclusive batches of the women drivers for city cabs.
The highlight is a camera based innovative driving testing system which will ensure a technology based assessment of the driving quality on the various tracks of the IDTR without human intervention. This technology will enable promotion of a corruption free platform for grant of driving licenses and selection of drivers ensuring the quality of the applicant. The camera based testing system has been developed by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).