Textiles Ministry approves Rs 149.2 million project for Gujarat firms.
The Union Ministry of Textiles has approved a Rs 149.2 million project to develop advanced indigenous geo-grid coating technology in India. The project has been awarded to Surat-based Man Made Textiles Research Association (MANTRA) and Vapi-based Yamuna Machines Private Limited under the National Technical Textile Mission.
The initiative aims to design, develop and manufacture a Geo-Grid Coating Line within India, reducing dependence on imported machinery from countries such as Germany, South Korea and the United States. Officials estimate that successful development of the technology could help reduce annual imports worth Rs 2-3 billion while strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Geo-grids are widely used in highways, railways, expressways, airports, ports, riverbank protection, slope stabilisation and retaining walls for soil reinforcement. The project will move the technology from Technology Readiness Level 3 to 8, enabling commercial-scale production of energy-efficient and globally competitive machinery.
MANTRA Director Dr Pankaj Gandhi and Deputy Director Dr Hitesh Jariwala will lead the research effort, while Madhubhai, founder of Yamuna Machines, will oversee industrial design and manufacturing. The project will also create infrastructure for product design, prototype development, testing, quality evaluation and industrial-scale validation.
The initiative is expected to support Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat by strengthening India’s technical textile machinery ecosystem and creating opportunities in exports, employment and technology development.
Source: The Blunt Times