(a) whether the Government has approved a proposal to establish Auto Testing and Research Centres in various States of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, location-wise ;
(c) the number of such centres in the country at present;
(d) whether any action plan regarding extension of these units is under consideration by the Government; and
(e) if so, the details of amount likely to be spent on expansion of existing units and establishment of new research centres?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT(SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) Government has approved the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infra-structure project (NATRIP) under Department of Heavy Industries, which envisages setting up of world–class automotive testing and homologation facilities in India at a total investment of Rs. 1,718 crores in two phases of three years each, from the date of its launch. The main facilities will come up in the three automotives hubs of the country, Chennai (in the South), Manesar (in the North) and Pune (in the West).
(b) The project envisages setting up of the following facilities:-
(i) A full-fledged testing and homologation center within the northern hub of automotive industry at Manesar in the State of Haryana.
(ii) A full- fledged testing and homologation center within the southern hub of automotive industry at a location near Chennai in the State of Tamil Nadu.
(iii) Up-gradation of existing testing and homologation facilities at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune and at Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar.
(iv) World-class proving grounds or testing racks on around 4,000 acres of land, including summer and winter pads, in Madhya Pradesh subject to the land being made available by the State Government.
(v) National Centre for Testing of Tractors and Off- Roads Vehicles together with the national facilities for accident data analysis and specialized driving training at Rae Bareilly in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
(vi) National Specialized Hill Area Driving Training Centre as also Regional In-Use Vehicle Management Centre at Dholchora (Silchar) in the State of Assam.
(c) to (e): At present there are three authorized homologation testing centre in the country namely Automotive Research Association of India, Pune; Vehicle Research Development & Establishment, Ahmednagar; and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. Government has decided to upgrade and expand the existing facilities located at Automotive Research Association of India, Pune and Vehicle Research Development & Establishment, Ahmednagar. The total cost of the project is Rs. 1718 crores , out of which Rs. 275 crores will be spent on the upgradation and expansion of the capacities of Automotive Research Association of India, Pune & Vehicle Research Development & Establishment, Ahmednagar; while balance amount of Rs. 1443 crore will be spent on the setting up of new facilities as envisages in the Project.