ISRO Advanced Radar Research Facility to Come Up at Chandrapur. Guwahati
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati/Assam, Sep 22: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday performed the Bhumi Pujan and laid the foundation stone for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) ISTRAC Advanced Radar Research Facility (IARRF) at Chandrapur in Kamrup Metropolitan district, marking a significant step towards strengthening the State’s space science and research ecosystem.
The facility is being established under ISRO’s Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) as part of Project NETRA, the space agency’s initiative to enhance India’s Space Situational Awareness capabilities and strengthen the monitoring and tracking of objects in outer space.
The facility will be equipped with advanced radar systems and optical telescopes to monitor satellites and other space objects and contribute to the protection of India’s space assets.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sarma said the project would mark a “new chapter” in Assam’s association with India’s space programme. He expressed hope that Chandrapur would gradually become a prominent centre for space science, comparable in significance to Bengaluru and Sriharikota.
The Chief Minister said the State Government had allotted around 200 bighas of land at the former Chandrapur Thermal Power Station site for the ISRO project. He added that the first radar for cloud research is expected to be installed at the facility by February next year.
According to Dr. Sarma, the radar would help improve scientific understanding of weather and atmospheric phenomena relevant to Assam and the Northeast. The facility is also expected to generate opportunities for scientific research, innovation, skill development and collaboration among research institutions, universities and students.
The Chief Minister said Assam had witnessed considerable expansion of its educational and research infrastructure, citing institutions such as IIT Guwahati, AIIMS Guwahati, the Central Universities at Tezpur and Silchar and IIM Guwahati. The IARRF, he said, would provide a dedicated platform for advanced research in space science.
Dr. Sarma stressed the need to develop scientific temperament among the younger generation and said the State Government would work to connect colleges and universities with the IARRF and the Science City at Sonapur. He said students should be given greater exposure to emerging fields such as space science, astronomy, atmospheric science and advanced technologies.
The Chief Minister also invited ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan to visit the Science City at Sonapur and urged ISRO to extend technical and scientific support to strengthen its educational and outreach programmes.
He further called for greater collaboration among academic institutions, research organisations, government agencies and industry, particularly in view of the growing participation of young people and startups in India’s space sector.
Dr. Sarma appealed to the people of Chandrapur to extend their cooperation to the scientists and officials involved in establishing the facility. He also expressed appreciation to Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta, departmental officials, the local MLA and residents for their support.
Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, and ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan said the facility would strengthen India’s space situational awareness capabilities and contribute to advanced scientific research.
ISTRAC Director M. R. Raghavendra delivered the welcome address, while Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta also addressed the gathering.
Guwahati Lok Sabha MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLA Tapan Das, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology Pallav Gopal Jha, and senior scientists and officials of ISRO, ISTRAC, NESAC and ASSAC, besides other dignitaries, were present at the programme.
