Tata Motors launches Tata IRIS in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 16 2011: Tata Motors Tuesday expressed its initiative to establish a drivers training institute in Manipur to avoid frequent road accident.

The company's Regional Manager(East) Habib Saleh said this while briefing the media in connection with the formal launching of its latest four seated Tata Magic IRIS here on evening of Independence Day.

"We would be very keen to establish a drivers training institute to have a quality driving in the era of good road and good vehicles", the regional manager said.

"We've also approached the state government in this regard" .

However the state government is yet to approved the proposal as the land acquisition is a major issue here, says Khushwant Singh, owner of Tata Motors dealer -Manipur Golden Travels.

He said a minimum of 14 acres of land is required for the establishment of the drivers training institute. Earlier state Chief Minister O Ibobi in presence of former chief minister RB Koijam, Transport Minister L Jayentakumar, Deputy Chairman State Planning Commission Bijoy Koijam and other state officials and business community, formally launched the smallest commercial four wheeler public transport carrier--Tata Magic IRIS for the first time in the country at its MGT Imphal outlet.

According to the Tata Motor officials, the reason behind the formal launching of the vehicle for the first time in the country is because of it's big market prospects in Manipur as well as the clearance given by concerned state department.

On the advantage of the vehicle, the Tata Motor official further stated that Tata Magic IRIS is designed to become a stylish alternative for those still dependent on the three wheelers as means of public transport.

"It will be very suitable in the small and congested roads of Manipur," the official said and added that being a diesel engine with a powerful 611cc and 11 HP power,the cost of maintenance will also be less.

In short the new vehicle which costs just Rs 1.9 lakh (ex showroom Thane) would be a bread earner commercial vehicles for the self employed youths of the state, he added.

Introduction of such commercial transport vehicle in a state like Manipur would certainly improved the economy of the educated unemployed youths.

The officials here felt that the new Tata Magic IRIS will replaced the noisy three wheeler auto-rickshaws which hit the busy Imphal town in the recent past and creates lots of noise pollution.

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