ARAI to upgrade Pune, Ahmednagar units for Rs 550 cr

To set up 5 testing centres across the country

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in Pune is setting up five testing centres at Manesar (Haryana), Chennai, Rae Bareilly, Indore and Silchar (Assam).

These are a part of the Central government's Rs 1,720 crore National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP).

The government has allocated Rs 1,170 crore for setting up the five centres and Rs 550 crore for upgrading its two existing facilities at ARAI in Pune and at the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra. The proposed centres will be operational by 2010.

The initiative is part of the government's auto policy, which envisions establishing a globally competitive automotive industry in the country and doubling its contribution to the economy by 2010.

It plans to do this by achieving a high degree of value addition, modernising the industry and facilitating design and R&D, and developing safety and environmental standards at par with global norms.

It is also looking to ensure the country emerges as the major hub for auto components and automobiles.

The ARAI is a non-profit cooperative industrial research organisation formed by the Indian Automotive Industry, affiliated to the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises. It is spread across 263 acres of land, with 15,000 sq m built-up area at Pune.

The ARAI is an authorised certification agency of ministry of road transport & highways. A majority of automotive certification is done by ARAI. It helps the central government formulate automotive standards as well as provide technical support.

ARAI also carries out sponsored research for the automotive industry in the areas of engine, emission, structural dynamics, NVH, and automotive electronics among others.

Speaking to Business Standard, S Raju, Sr deputy director, ARAI, said, "The auto industry in India is growing fast and ARAI is located at Pune. With an aim to cater to the development and certification needs of automotive manufacturers and auto ancillaries in the northern and southern regions of the country too, the ARAI is expanding its network at five places in the country and upgrading two existing facilities at ARAI in Pune and vehicle research and development establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar."

As per NATRiP, full-fledged testing and homologation centres would be set up at Manesar in Haryana and at Oragadam near Chennai with an investment of Rs 350 crore each.

A world-class automobile proving ground (test track) will come up on 4,098 acres of land in central India at Pithampur, 15 miles from Indore in Madhya Pradesh at an investment of Rs 325 crore.

A centre for testing of tractors and off-road vehicles in the northern region of the country, with national facility for accident data analysis and specialised driving training will be built at Rae Bareilly, about 60 miles from Lucknow at an investment of Rs 100 crore.

A specialised hill area driving training centre and an in-use vehicle management centre is being set up in the north-eastern region at Silchar in Assam at an investment of Rs 45 crore.