Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Haryana to establish an Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTR) in Ambala. The initiative aims to strengthen professional driver training, promote safer roads, and develop a future-ready workforce for India’s transportation and logistics sector.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Atul Dwivedi, IAS, Transport Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Government of Haryana, and Mr. Dharmendra Pal Singh, Head – Driver Training Institute, Ashok Leyland, in the presence of senior officials from the Haryana Transport Department and Ashok Leyland.
Spread across approximately 13 acres, the institute will offer scientific, practical, and professional training for drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV) and Light Motor Vehicles (LMV), with a strong focus on road safety, responsible driving, and modern vehicle-handling skills.
Mr. Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said a skilled and responsible driver is at the heart of a safe and efficient transportation ecosystem, and that the partnership with the Government of Haryana marks another significant step in the company’s continued investment in professional driver training as a pillar of road safety.
Mr. Anil Dhingra, Head – Aftermarket (M&HCV), Ashok Leyland, said the company’s Driver Training Institutes have evolved into centres of excellence that go beyond driving instruction, and that the Ambala IDTR will combine modern infrastructure, technology-led training, and a scientifically designed curriculum to address the evolving needs of the transportation sector while creating better employment opportunities for youth.
The IDTR will offer comprehensive training programmes, including HMV and LMV freshers’ courses, refresher and licence renewal training, and specialised courses for goods and hazardous-material drivers. With capacity to train around 2,000 new and 20,000 existing drivers annually, the institute will feature digital classrooms, advanced simulators, live engine and transmission demonstrations, medical facilities, and hostel accommodation. Specially designed tracks will replicate real-world driving conditions, while the curriculum will cover defensive driving, vehicle handling, fuel conservation, maintenance, emergency response, firefighting, first aid, and stress management.
The institute will serve drivers and youth from Ambala and neighbouring districts, including Yamunanagar, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, and Jind, as well as nearby states, strengthening employability and career opportunities in the transport and logistics sector.
The Ambala IDTR builds on Ashok Leyland’s nearly three-decade commitment to driver training and road safety. The company currently operates 17 Driver Training Institutes across India in partnership with state governments and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, having trained more than 28 lakh drivers since 1995.
