With blessings from the Chief Minister and zero tolerance for bad parallel parking, Maruti Suzuki’s new automated test tracks promise safer roads, sharper drivers, and fewer ‘miracle passes.’
Dehradun / New Delhi:
In a move that might finally make the “driving test uncle” obsolete and give panic-prone learners a fair shot, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated two swanky new Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) in Haridwar and Rishikesh, courtesy of Maruti Suzuki’s road-safety-centric CSR initiative.
Now, before you imagine a dramatic Fast & Furious-style track, let us clarify: these tracks are less about drifting and more about disciplined lane changing. Equipped with high-definition cameras and integrated IT systems, these ADTTs bring a no-nonsense, fully computerised approach to driving license evaluations. Translation? If you can’t parallel park, the system will know—and no, bribing the webcam isn’t an option.
The tracks cater to Light Motor Vehicles and 2-wheelers, ensuring that hill-state driving (read: hairpin turns, sudden monkey crossings, and steep climbs) gets tackled by folks who actually know what they’re doing behind the wheel.
From God’s Country to ‘Code-Compliant Country’
Speaking at the inauguration, Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, said,
“Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble CM Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand is climbing fast—both literally and figuratively. These tracks ensure that only skilled and competent drivers receive licenses through a transparent, fully computerized system. No jugaad, only judgment.”
Backed by CMVR (Central Motor Vehicle Rules), the test process leaves little room for error—or favours. Even your childhood friendship with the RTO clerk won’t save you from the all-seeing camera’s verdict.
Dehradun Showed the Way, Now Haridwar and Rishikesh Join the Ride
Maruti Suzuki has already been running a successful ADTT in Dehradun since 2019, which reportedly won the Chief Minister’s Award for “Excellence and Good Governance” (also known as “Finally, Someone Fixed the Queue at the License Office”).
And if you think automated testing means tougher passing? You’re right. Pass rates at Dehradun dipped to 60% in FY 2019-20, only to climb back up to 69% as people realized, “Maybe I should practice reverse parking more than once before the test.”
Holy Yatra, Batman! Drivers Get Trained for the Char Dham Challenge
Uttarakhand’s Transport Secretary Shri Brijesh Kumar Sant (IAS) highlighted how this partnership goes beyond issuing licenses:
“We work closely with Maruti Suzuki for refresher training of commercial drivers before Char Dham Yatra. It’s not just a road trip—it’s a spiritual trek with hairpin bends and brake tests from heaven.”
In fact, refresher courses conducted before the yatra ensure that only those with nerves of steel (and properly adjusted side mirrors) get the mandatory Green Card to ferry pilgrims through the mountains.
This year, the initiative targets training a whopping 11,000 commercial drivers, ensuring that the road to salvation doesn’t involve a fender bender.
If you plan to drive through the land of gods, you better have divine driving skills. With Maruti Suzuki’s automated tracks leading the way, Uttarakhand’s roads are set to get safer—one perfectly executed figure-eight at a time.
So buckle up, stop relying on divine intervention, and prepare to impress the most honest examiner of all: a computer with no patience for missed indicators.
