Country's first road safety research and training centre coming up at Saswad; Sarnaik inspects work

The country's first road safety research and training centre, the Road Safety Training and Research Institute, is being built at Saswad in Purandar taluka of Pune district. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who is also the guardian minister of Dharashiv district, visited the project. He gave the officials concerned the necessary instructions on the spot so that the centre would be of good quality, modern and effective.

During the visit, Sarnaik reviewed work on three components: the Automated Testing Station (ATS), the Automated Driving Testing Track (ADTT) and the proposed Road Safety Training and Research Institute.

The entire project will come up on 25 acres at Saswad. It will make the technical inspection of vehicles and the testing of drivers more transparent, accurate and scientific. At the automated testing station, sensors and cameras will be used to check vehicles' brakes, suspension, lights and emissions. This will cut the time taken for fitness checks and make vehicles on the road safer.

The driver testing track will have a figure-of-8 course, an H-shaped course, and tracks with gradients and turns. These different tests will assess drivers' skills. The tests will be conducted using modern technology and video analytics, which will make the licensing process fairer and more reliable.

Through the State Road Safety Training and Research Institute, officials and staff of the motor vehicles department will be trained in modern technology, changing motor vehicle laws, road safety and traffic management. This will improve the department's efficiency and make its road safety work more effective.

Giving instructions on the occasion, Minister Pratap Sarnaik said, "To reduce road accidents, mere compliance with rules is not enough; modern technology, trained manpower and a scientific approach are also needed. The Saswad centre should be built to a standard that proves to be a model for the country."

The centre is expected to improve vehicle safety, driver skills and the quality of the road safety system. The project is being seen as an important milestone for road safety in Maharashtra.