The state transport department has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with auto major Maruti Suzuki India Limited to set up a first-of-its-kind motor vehicle and traffic research institute in Aurangabad, 100km south-west of Patna.

To be set up on 15 acres of land with a total plan outlay of Rs 30,29,86,000, Institute of Driving and Traffic Research would primarily focus on drivers’ training programme for heavy motor vehicles.

Sources said the institute, which would be run in a public-private partnership mode, would also train people on skills to drive light motor vehicles, besides focusing on road safety research activities.

“After rounds of talks and selection procedure, the department signed the MoU with Maruti Suzuki on Monday to set up Institute of Driving and Traffic Research in Aurangabad. The state government would spend Rs 16.22 crore for the project, while the Centre’s share would be Rs 14 crore. Maruti Suzuki’s contribution to the project would be about Rs 68 lakh,” a senior transport department officer said on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the transport department “ has got over 15 acres near National Highway 2 in Aurangabad from Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority on lease for 99 years to set up the institute.

“A society comprising members of the state transport department and Maruti would be formed within a month. It would run the institute on a no-profit-no-loss basis. The institute would inculcate road safety awareness and safe driving habits among people by organising scientifically engineered training programmes,” the official said.

Maruti Suzuki has set up similar institutes in Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Gujarat in the past few years.

According to the sources, Institute of Driving and Traffic Research, Aurangabad, would be developed as a state-of-the-art facility with driving tracks spread over an area of 20,000-25,000sqm. It would also have hostels and administrative buildings among other facilities.

“The institute would have sophisticated equipment for training drivers, including advanced computer simulators, a theory module for class-room training and workshops to provide hands-on guidance to the trainees,” the transport department official said.

The sources in the transport department said the proposed institute in Aurangabad would be the first school of its kind to be set up in Bihar for providing training to heavy motor vehicle drivers. The sources added that such training programmes would help in bringing down the number of accidents involving trucks and buses.

The sources said the work on the institute is expected to start within two to three months once the Centre and the state government release their respective share of funds. A source said construction would be undertaken by the state building construction department that would award the corresponding tenders in the next few weeks.