India's first road safety training and research institute to open in Pune
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik inspected the 25-acre project at Saswad intended to make vehicle fitness and driver testing more scientific.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik inspected the construction of India's first Road Safety Training and Research Institute in Saswad, Pune district, on Monday, according to The Indian Express.
The project, spread over 25 acres in Purandar taluka, includes an Automated Testing Station (ATS) for vehicles, an Automated Driving Testing Track (ADTT) for driver assessment, and a research institute.
The ATS will use sensors and cameras to inspect vehicle brakes, suspension, lights, and emissions to improve safety and reduce fitness check times.
On the ADTT, candidates will be assessed through manoeuvres such as figure-of-eight and H-shaped courses, using video analytics to make driving licence issuance more objective.
The state-level institute will train Motor Vehicles Department staff in road safety, traffic management, and evolving motor vehicle laws to improve efficiency.
Sarnaik said enforcement of rules alone is not enough to reduce accidents and stated that modern technology and a scientific outlook are essential for the Saswad centre.