North East News Agency

Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Santosh Mohan Dev launched     the Rs.1718 crore National Automotive Testing & R&D Infrastructure Project (MATRIP) by laying the foundation stone of the National Hill Area Driving Training & Regional In-use Vehicle Management Centre at Dholchora, Silchar, recently. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Dev announced a number of measures proposed to be to make the Silchar facility a world-class institution.

While explaining the scope and the rationale of NATRIP, Mr. Dev mentioned that automotive Sector with its’ turnover of Rs.1,65,000 crore and investment exceeding Rs.50,000 crore is growing at more than 20% for the last three years. He brought out large employment potential of the sector and underlined the commitment of Government of India to consistently support developmental initiatives in this sector. He elaborated the manner in which NATRIP will strengthen the automotive R&D infrastructure in the country and will help India in producing and exporting low price, high-tech vehicles and components.

The Minister stated that Silchar facility will test the in-use vehicles of all the seven states in the North-Eeastern region and will bring rich multifaceted dividends to this area. It will also help significantly to improve transport infrastructure in this region. He mentioned that the Silchar Centre will annually train about 1000 young persons the skills to handle the latest automobiles.

Dr. Surojit Mitra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises announced that NATRIP centre at Silchar will be world class and one of its’ kind in this part of the world. He mentioned that the centre should be functional within next two years time.

Assam Ministers Goutam Ray, Misbahul Islam Lashkar and D.P. Goala welcomed the initiative under NATRIP and assured full support of the State Governmeni to the project activities.

With the launch of NATRIP centre at Silchar, Government’s efforts to comprehensively    improve the existing road safety scenario will  get a major boost.

This also marks the beginning of ground      activities under  NATRIP in India. All NATRIP facilities at seven locations in the country are stated to become operationsl by the year  2011.

Assam | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |