Ministry pushes auto R&D labs in metros

The ministry of heavy industry is keen on early commissioning of the proposed homologation and R&D labs in Delhi, Chennai and Pune.

Senior government officials and industry representatives including Maruti Udyog and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers executives on Monday met three of the nine consultants shortlisted for the projects.

Dekra, Ricardo and the Boston Consulting Group made presentations in the ministry of heavy industry on Monday.  The remaining six -- Mira, Dalal and Mott Mc Donald, and AVL, Idiada and ICRA -- are scheduled to make their presentations over the next two days.

The National Automobile Testing and R & D Infrastructure Project estimated to cost Rs 1,781 crore (Rs 17.81 billion) has been planned in three phases.

An allocation of over Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion) in the first two years is proposed and the remaining Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.5 billion) would be invested in the third year.

The project was approved by the Planning Commission in March 2004, but is yet to be approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee. The department of public enterprises had approved the project in 2002.

Besides, the three R&D centres in Delhi and Chennai, the Automotive Research Association of India facility in Pune is planned to be upgraded. The hubs will have facilities like track testing, labs for noise check, electromagnetic compatibility, among others.

The consultant that is selected will be given the mandate to prepare a detailed project report over the next six months. Local representatives of international consultants said the government was keen on kick-starting the project by the end of this financial year.