NATRiP Global Automotive Research Centre fast coming up in Chennai
To offer a host of advanced facilities for OEMs
By R. Natarajan, Managing Editor
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, popularly known as the Detroit of Asia has also the distinction of having the Global Automotive Research Center(GARC) established under the National Automotive Testing and R AND D InfrastructureProject (NATRiP). Among the various NATRiP projects coming up in different cities,the Chennai centre work on which is in progress, will have a host of modern facilities such as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), advance passive safety lab for crash testing, infotronics lab, photomatry lab, etc.
Disclosing this in an exclusive interview to MOTORINDIA, Mr. Rajesh Singh, CEO and Project Director, NATRiP Implementation Society (NATIS), said all the labs would be commissioned in a phased manner during August 2010-March 2011. It is for the first time that a crash test lab is being set up by NATRiP in the public domain, providing complete coverage of 180 degree.
The electromagnetic compatibility,which is the second of its kind in India after VRDE, can test all the vehicles,from mopeds to heavy commercial vehicles.The Centre of Excellence of Infotronics set up for recycling demostrative plant for two,three and four-wheelers is also the first of its kind in India.
He said that the total investment on the GARC facility in Chennai which is well-equipped with the best of testing machines, including those from Messering of Germany, is estimated at Rs. 470 crores. Located at the SIPCOT Industrial Estate in Oragadam near Chen­nai GARC will also have facilities for a full spectrum of homologation and performance testing of automobiles, ranging from two and three-wheelers to HCVs. It will also house the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for passive safety, electromagnetic compatibility and infotronics.
The foundation for the centre was laid by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in November 2006. With quick follow-up by the State Government, work on construction of roads across the site and electrical posts within the complex is in full swing. The temporary site office has also started functioning. The boundary wall as well as the nursery / creche building have also been completed. While construction of lab buildings, EMC, power train, etc., is expected to be completed soon, the homologation track at GARC will be ready by December next.
About NATRiP
NATRiP is the most significant initiative taken by the Department of Heavy Industry for establishing the much-needed world class automotive testing, validation, R AND D and homologation facilities in the three automotive hubs in the North and South and upgrading the existing facilities at ARAI,Pune, and VRDE,Ahmednagar, in the western auto hub.The idea was also for setting up a proving ground at Indore,a centre for testing of tractors at Rae Bareilly and a model I and M centre with a specialized hill area driving training centre at Silchar (Assam) with a total investment of Rs.1,718 crores.
The Governing Council of the NATRiP Implementation Society (NATIS) is chaired by the Secretary, DHI, and includes members from the Department of Heavy Industry,Department of Road Transport,Ministry of Environment and Forests,ARAI,SIAM, ACMA and other automobile experts.
Set up after sustained deliberations among key stakeholders including the automotive industry the Planning Commission,the various ministries, a number of State Governments and auto experts from both within the country and abroad,NATRiP aims at creation of critically needed automotive testing and validation infrastructure.This is especially important in the light of demand of todays manufacturers for vehicles which are ushering in global vehicular safety,emission and performance norms.
The focus currently is on Phase 1 of building infractructure and capabilities to meet emerging requirements.Facilities like NATRAX in Indore and GARC in Chennai are seeing a frantic pace of work happen. VRDE and ARAI in western India are in a major overhaul mode, and several new equipments have been installed and are now functional.
Silchar is progressing very well,with the driving simulator in place at Dholchara and the training institute up and running.At the second location of Jaffirbond, work is progressing quite rapidly. Rae Bareilly is also progressing quite well,with land almost having been acquired.
The success story in all of this has largely been iCAT,which has done marvelously well for itself.It is the second center in the country to have received certification rights and as a result is today the preferred choice for many manufacturers based in the North.
However, there is a long way to go. Come second phase, and nine key Centres of Excellence will be set up to develop capabilities for advanced R AND D in critical areas.These centres will aim at converging Indias traditionally high strength areas like infotech,electronics and alternative energy sources, and other core competencies. All of this will be commissioned in phases by September 2011.
NATRiPs steady progress in fact has been in the news in both national and international media and at R AND D forums. This has helped in potential customers becoming aware of a test facility close to them, thus saving time and logistical hassles. Other OEMs who do not yet have a set-up in India are looking at doing business in advanced areas like Euro V emissions, fatigue testing, endurance and validation testing, mileage accumulation, etc.
Further, tenders worth Rs. 1,400 cores have already been floated and are in the process of finalistion.Centers are slowly coming into operation, whether wholly or partially, and there has been much recognition for the team of engineers and scientists who run the different centres.