The six testing centres being set up by the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP, under the ministry of heavy industries) across India to create state-of-the-art research and testing infrastructure for automobiles are likely to be operational by September 2011.

The testing track for high speed vehicles (having speeds between 250 kmph and 350 kmph) at the Indore centre would be operational by 2012.

The project aims at creating core global competencies in automotive sector in India and facilitate seamless integration of the Indian automotive industry with the world as also to position the country prominently on the global automotive map.

Speaking to Business Standard, NATRiP, Advisor (corporate communications), Ranojoy Mukerji said, "We are coming up with six testing centres across India to set up test facilities at Manesar, Chennai, Indore, Pune, Ahmednagar (western region) and Silchar.

"All the centres would be ready by September 2011, except testing track at the national automotive test tracks (Natrax)-Indore to test high speed, which would take over one year as compared to the other centres."

The total project cost for these centres is Rs 1,718 crore (Rs 17.18 billion), which would be escalated to Rs 1,800 crore (Rs 18 billion) because of some reasons.

One of the largest and significant initiatives in the automotive sector so far, NATRiP represents a unique joining of hands between the government of India, a number of state governments and Indian Automotive Industry, to create a state-of-the-art testing, validation and R&D infrastructure in the country.