Maruti commissions 7 automated driving test tracks in TN

Chennai: Top car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has commissioned seven Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) in Tamil Nadu as part of its road safety initiatives under the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.The facilities, developed in partnership with the State Transport Department, were inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin via video conferencing, according to a statement.
The ADTTs have been established at Regional Transport Offices in Coimbatore (Central), Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Madurai (North), Sivagangai, Dindigul and Tiruchirappalli (West). The initiative marks one of the first large-scale deployments of automated driving licence testing in Tamil Nadu for both two-wheelers and light motor vehicles.The project forms part of a memorandum of agreement between Maruti Suzuki and the Tamil Nadu Transport Department to automate 10 driving test tracks across the State. The company completed automation of all ten facilities within 150 days, with tracks at Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Marthandam expected to become operational shortly.The automated tracks use high-definition cameras, video analytics, RFID sensors, face-recognition systems and integrated IT platforms to conduct driving assessments with minimal human intervention. The technology-enabled system aims to standardise licence testing, eliminate manual bias and ensure objective evaluation in line with Central Motor Vehicle Rules. Test results are generated automatically.Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer (Corporate Affairs) at Maruti Suzuki, said automated testing strengthens transparency and ensures that only qualified drivers are issued licences. He added that improving driver evaluation remains critical as India recorded about 1.77 lakh road accident fatalities in 2024, according to government data.With the latest commissioning, Maruti Suzuki has automated 56 driving test tracks across eight states, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar and Uttarakhand. The company has also signed agreements to establish additional facilities in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, taking its planned nationwide ADTT network to 81.