Union minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated Asia’s longest and the world’s fifth high speed test track at National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Indore. 

NATRAX is developed under National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) of the department of heavy industry. 

Highlights of NATRAX high-speed track:

• NATRAX, located near the vibrant industrial township of Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the automotive testing and certification centres in India. 

• Developed in an area of 1,000 acres, it is a one-stop solution for all sorts of high speed performance tests and can cater to the widest category of vehicles — from two wheelers to the heaviest tractor trailers.

• With the development of NATRAX (National Automotive Test Tracks) Indore facility, domestic vehicles will no longer need to be sent abroad for testing.

• Foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) will be looking at NATRAX high speed track for the development of prototype cars for Indian conditions. At present, foreign OEMs go to their respective high speed track abroad for high speed test requirements.

• The 11.3 km high-speed track with four lanes can be used to carry out development and homologation tests for all kinds of vehicles. 

• The large size of this track enables the OEMs to perform a wide variety of tests in one track itself like coast down tests, brake tests, constant speed fuel consumption test, speedometer calibration, noise & vibration measurement and mileage accumulation among others.

• Vehicles can achieve a maximum speed of 375 km per hour on curves with steering control.

• The track can be used for testing high end cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and  Lamborghini.

What is NATRiP?

• National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) is a flagship project of the department of heavy industry (DHI) for setting up of world level regulations in safety, emission, etc besides providing facilities for R&D for automobiles & auto-component industry. 

• The project was set up in 2005. 

• It is fully funded by the government with a total cost of Rs 3727.30 crore. 

• This is one of the most significant initiatives in the automotive sector. 

Four new centers have been set up under the project:

1) International Center For Automotive Technology (iCAT) at Manesar in Haryana.

2) Global Automotive Research Center (GARC) at Oragadam near Chennai  in Tamil Nadu.

3) National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) at Pithampur near Indore  in Madhya Pradesh.

4) National Institute Of Automotive Inspection, Maintenance & Training (NIAIMT) at Silchar  in Assam.

• The two existing facilities — Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI-Pune) and Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE-Ahmednagar) — have been upgraded with new technologies.

• This project has ensured availability of world class infrastructure within the country to test vehicles and components, in line with existing and emerging automotive standards, with the aim to enhance vehicular safety, reduce emissions and bolster performance, thus helping in modernisation of the automotive industry.

• It has also helped deepen the automotive manufacturing sector in India, to expand India’s global presence, promote larger value addition and thereby significantly enhance employment generation in this sector.

• In future, it will also help to make India a global outsourcing base for automobiles and auto components, in furtherance of Automotive Mission Plan (AMP).

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