Apollo Tyres extends its youth empowerment & road safety programmes

Apollo Tyres Ltd. inaugurated its first formal training centre for Heavy and Light Commercial Vehicles (CV) Drivers, located in the busy transportation hub of Ujjain city, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. In partnership with B-ABLE, a not-for-profit
organisation, the focus of this, and future Driver Training Centres, will be on the dual areas of imparting a complete education to equip young aspirants with all aspects of road and vehicle safety and maintenance; along with promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Apollo decided to take this route given that there is a rising need to address employability and skill development of young people, along with a gap in the number of on-road commercial vehicles and capable drivers to pilot them. The focus on safety and health stems for the fact that India has the 2nd highest CV accident rate in the world, because drivers push themselves to spend long hours on the road, neglecting basic rest and health needs.

The Ujjain Centre will train 200 drivers every year. To qualify for a certificate, each individual will have to undergo a 45-day training module, which would include complete driving and road management, safe driving, fuel conservation, repairs and maintenance, tyre care and life, trouble shooting and first aid. Individuals will also have to complete a minimum of 20 hours of practical on-road driving under varying conditions with an instructor.

Inaugurating the Centre, Rajesh Dahiya, Group Head, Sales and Marketing, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, "Our aim in setting up these Centres is two-pronged. First to generate employment and increase road safety. And second, to create a new crop of CV drivers who are aware and know how to take care of their own health and that of their vehicles. Initiatives like this will go a long way in promoting profitability in the CV sector, given that there is a dearth of trained drivers and fuel and tyres are the two biggest costs the sector is faced with."

"The association with Apollo Tyres adds greater value to what we are already doing at B-ABLE in providing sustainable and market-led skill development programmes. Being a leader in the Indian CV segment, they have a high exposure and knowledge of the segment, behaviour of people and their needs. They also bring in valuable expertise on tyre care and maintenance," said Sushil Ramola, CEO and MD, B-ABLE.

Posted in: Apollo Tyres Ltd.,B-ABLE,Commercial Vehicles,India,Madhya Pradesh,Rajesh Dahiya,Sushil Ramola,Training Center,Ujjain