Chennai gets a new vehicle testing facility

GARC (Global Automotive Research Centre) has recently opened up a new vehicle testing and homologation facility in Chennai. Union heavy industries & public enterprises minister, Anant G. Geete, on Thursday formally inaugurated the test track facility for Indian automotive firms at Oragadam in Chennai. The facility is developed by GARC Chennai, a body working under the NATRiP (National Automotive Testing & R&D Infra Project). The testing centre covers 304 acres and houses a host of automotive test facilities. The test track covers three-fourths of the total land area and has five different types of test tracks, namely a 4.5km-long high-speed track (HST), gradient or hill track, external noise track (ENT), braking surface track (BST) ABS test tracks with different friction surfaces and steering pad. The total cost of this test tracks project is Rs 193.25 crore.

The GARC is one of the six facilities being developed under NATRiP. GARC is now notified under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 to issue test certificates for homologation under Rule No.126.

The facility is surrounded by major automobile manufacturers – Hyundai Motor India, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Renault, Nissan, Ford India, BMW India and – also several leading Indian and foreign component manufacturers, thus making it a very apt location.