Saarthi Aaram Kendra: Tata Motors, IndianOil launch innovative welfare initiative for commercial vehicle divers

India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, Tata Motors, has reached an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), the largest commercial oil company in India, to launch an innovative driver welfare initiative called ‘Saarthi Aaram Kendra’ to provides pit stops for them to take rest, said a company statement, adding the initiative will support their physical and mental well-being. 

Saarthi Aaram Kendra, which was inaugurated on Friday at Bawal, which is located on India’s busiest National highway - NH8. The initiative is a step forward towards recognizing the efforts of commercial vehicle 'saarthis' by providing them access to basic amenities on the go. It has been comprehensively designed to have an end-to-end solution for the 'saarthis' which includes restrooms, restaurant, secured parking with CCTV camera, self-cooking, launderette, open bathing facility, barber shop, clean drinking water facility, TV and Wi-Fi, the statement said. Saarthis can also avail truck-related services from the vehicle service workshop available within the premises.

Commenting on the Saarthi initiative, Girish Wagh, President – CVBU, Tata Motors Limited, said, “At Tata Motors, ensuring road safety and comfort to our Saarthis is our priority. Saarthi Aaram Kendra is an initiative offering basic facilities on the go to the commercial vehicle saarthis. It offers an environment wherein saarthis will easily have access to their basic needs, this, in turn, will help them de-stress after long journeys and thereby improve their overall efficiency."

"We are glad to associate with IndianOil for this initiative bringing comfort and safety to the saarthis. In the initial phase, around 100+ saarthis will benefit every day at this facility, which will be gradually scaled up,” he added.

Vigyan Kumar, Executive Director (Retail Sales), IndianOil, said, “IndianOil and Tata Motors have come together for various business tie-ups in the past and this new joint initiative on driver welfare activity will further improve the goodwill towards driver community. IndianOil has always pioneered in taking various driver-centric initiatives at most of its highway retail outlets. Saarthi Aaram Kendra is another such unique initiative taken in this direction to cater to the daily needs of commercial vehicle drivers in a more efficient manner which will provide a feeling of homestay to them at our Retail outlets.”

Notably, Tata Motors and IOCL plan to set up more such facilities on high traffic National Highways.

The initiative comes close on the heels of Tata Motors Samarth, a drivers' welfare programme that covers areas like accidental insurance, hospitalisation cover, financial counselling and educational assistance packages for the drivers their children.