Vedanta Jharsuguda crosses 5,000 simulator sessions, sets new benchmark in safe-driving excellence

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JHARSUGUDA, DECEMBER 8, 2025

In a powerful step toward transforming road safety in industrial ecosystems, Vedanta Aluminium has achieved a major milestone with more than 5,000 simulator-based training sessions completed for Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) and Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) drivers at its Jharsuguda operations. As India’s largest aluminium producer, the company continues to strengthen its Zero-harm culture, making incident-free transportation a defining pillar of its operational standards.

This milestone marks the growing impact of the HMV & LMV Simulator Training Centre, which prepares drivers with real-world judgment and defensive-driving proficiency before they operate within or around Vedanta’s vast industrial premises. The centre leverages the precision of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to simulate challenging road conditions, diverse terrains, vehicular blind spots, and complex traffic scenarios, allowing participants to safely practice skills that are difficult to master on actual roads.

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The training programme is designed to evaluate and enhance reaction time, anticipation, peripheral awareness, hazard perception, and judgment. Drivers practice advanced manoeuvres such as reversing in high-precision driving zones, figure-8 navigation, parallel and reverse parking, merging safely into traffic, and handling adverse conditions like fog, rainfall and low visibility. The focus extends beyond technical performance to behavioural transformation, ensuring that drivers internalize safe-driving habits, manage stress on the road, and practise discipline as second nature rather than merely completing a qualification.

In September 2025, Vedanta expanded the programme to include Vehicle & Driving (V&D) compliance training, adding a sharper accountability framework. Since its rollout in May 2025, drivers enrolled in the programme have undergone corrective simulator modules based on performance gaps, resulting in marked improvements in on-road discipline and behavioural safety. Those requiring additional support complete refresher trainings before being reauthorized to drive, creating a structured and stringent compliance ecosystem.

Appreciating the progress, C. Chandru, CEO of Vedanta Jharsuguda, said road safety at Vedanta goes far beyond routine compliance. “It is a culture of accountability. We are ensuring that every driver who enters our ecosystem is equipped with awareness, precision and discipline. Technology-enabled learning is building a transportation environment where safe driving becomes instinctive and long-term,” he said.

Participants too are experiencing the transformative value of this training. One of the recently trained drivers shared that the virtual experience resembled real-road conditions to such an extent that it heightened his understanding of daily risks. “Driving in rain, fog or merging traffic felt incredibly realistic. The training taught us how to manage these challenges safely. Today I drive with more confidence, patience and responsibility,” he said.

Looking ahead, Vedanta Aluminium aims to bring all registered drivers under the programme by July 2026. Mandatory certification for Admin and Business Partner drivers and targeted corrective training for those requiring additional guidance will form the core of the next phase. Scheduled refresher sessions will reinforce skills periodically, ensuring consistent improvement. The initiative is poised to become a cornerstone of Vedanta’s mission to build a safe, predictable and Zero-harm transportation ecosystem.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, produces over half of India’s aluminium at 2.42 million tonnes in FY25. Recognized globally for its sustainability leadership, the company ranks second in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium industry. With world-class facilities across India, Vedanta continues to advance aluminium’s role as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener, technologically driven tomorrow.