INDORE: The National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Pithampur may soon be authorised to issue homologation certificates to vehicle tested at its facility. Till now, vehicle manufacturers received test reports from NATRiP and had to get certification from other agencies. NATRAX has been set up in Pithampur under the NATRiP project
The homologation certificate is a legal certification issued in compliance to safety rules prescribed in Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989.
At present, the automobile testing facility NATRAX issues test reports of tests conducted on the vehicles on the site.
NATRiP Indore’s additional director and site head Dr N Karuppaiah said, “We have applied for homologation accreditation to ministry of road transport and highways to be eligible to certify new vehicles developed by manufacturers.”
The accreditation is expected within 3 to 6 months.
The certification is important as any new vehicle before its launch has to undergo safety tests as per standards prescribed in CMVR and every automobile manufacturer has to abide by these safety norms.
At present, around 35 automobile giants such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Swaraz Mazda Motors, Tata Motors and MRF among others are using testing tracks.
NATRiP carries out about 40% of the vehicle performance tests that includes brake, steering, noise, fuel consumption and others while the rest is checked at other testing centers of the country.
Karuppaiah said, “As the Pithampur centre was considered as a development test centre and tests done here are more related to the performance and accelerated durability of the vehicle there are possibilities that the centre may get accredited for the whole vehicle certification or for the tests that we perform at our site.”
NATRAX has 14 automobile testing tracks constructed with stringent specifications and quality control to meet international standards except high speed test track, all other tracks are operational.