Tata Motors has announced the formal inauguration of a commercial vehicle driving centre at Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh. The centre, a joint venture between Tata Motors and the Urjanchal Driving School, was inaugurated by Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, in the presence of senior officials from the company.
The training centre, well equipped with class-rooms and a testing track, will operate in two modules, one for light commercial vehicles and the other for heavy commercial vehicles, and will be conducted with the audio-video (AV) methodology and practical sessions. Each module can accommodate 25 students. The course not only includes driving lessons but also sessions in basic vehicle maintenance, first-aid, financial literacy, health, soft skills and yoga, thus giving a holistic perspective to the trainee. The company has opened eight such training centres in the last year and a half.
India ranks highest in the world with about 1.43 lakh road fatalities a year, as per a report published by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. There is also a huge shortage of trained drivers in the country. Starting 2010, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has estimated a demand for more than 50 lakh drivers over a period of 12 years. Thus, Tata Motors has devised a two-pronged strategy, addressing the issue of road safety and providing employment opportunities to the youth. The growing need for commercial vehicle drivers at the current and upcoming energy and mining centres of Singrauli prompted the partnership between Tata Motors and the Urjanchal Driving School.
The company realises that a driver is a key stakeholder in the transportation industry and has undertaken this initiative to also help improve the dignity of the profession. Through this pioneering initiative, Tata Motors is looking at training more than two lakh youths by 2021, through such centres.
While Tata Motors continues to impart training to commercial vehicle drivers, product and road safety through “Defensive Driving” techniques to aspiring and existing commercial vehicle drivers is the key objective of the joint initiative.