Proposed driving tracks at Surajmal Vihar, Hauz Khas shifted to new locations

The Delhi government has shifted its proposed automated driving test tracks at Surajmal Vihar and Hauz Khas to new locations due to lack of land availability and resistance by the locals. The proposed facility at Surajmal Vihar will now be set up at DTC Terminal near Karkardooma Court, while the one at DTC Terminal, Hauz Khas, will come up at DTC Terminal, Lado Sarai.

A memorandum of understanding to set up the automated driving test tracks at 12 locations was signed between the transport department of the Delhi government and the Maruti Suzuki Foundation in December last year.

"It was later reported that the driving test tracks are not feasible at Surajmal Vihar and DTC Terminal, Hauz Khas," an office order issued on March 6 by the transport department said.

The government official said the decision to shift the proposed tracks was taken due to lack of availability of land at Surajmal Vihar, while the locals also had protested against setting up of the automated driving test track at Hauz Khas.

Besides the two new locations, the tracks will come up at transport department's 10 other facilities, including in Burari, Jharoda Kalan, Dwarka, Mayur Vihar, Pratap Nagar, Loni Border, Rohini, Raja Garden and Shakoor Basti. The tracks equipped with cameras and sensors will cost around Rs 1 crore each and will be spread, on an average, across one-acre land.