Assam: CM lays foundation for ISRO Advanced Radar Centre

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Advanced Radar Research Centre at Chandrapur near Guwahati under Project NETRA, marking a major addition to India’s space surveillance infrastructure.

#Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has laid the foundation stone for ISRO's (ISTRAC) Advanced Radar Research Centre at #Chandrapur under Project NETRA. pic.twitter.com/R7BbKyV62t

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Sarma described the facility as a landmark project for Assam and said it would strengthen India’s ability to track objects in space and protect vital space assets. The centre is part of ISRO’s Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) programme, which focuses on improving India’s space situational awareness. 
Project NETRA to Strengthen Space Surveillance
Project NETRA is aimed at detecting, tracking and monitoring objects orbiting Earth, including satellites and space debris. As the number of satellites and other objects in orbit increases, such capabilities are becoming increasingly important for safer space operations.The planned radar centre at Chandrapur will add to India’s ground-based space surveillance network. Radar systems can track objects even when optical systems face limitations due to darkness or cloud cover.According to reports, ISRO has identified a site at Chandrapur for the facility, with land transfer completed as part of the project’s development. 
Assam’s Role in Space Infrastructure
Sarma said the project reflects Assam’s growing role in hosting strategic national infrastructure. He described the establishment of the advanced radar facility as significant for a state that has traditionally been away from India’s major technology centres. The facility will contribute to India’s broader efforts to monitor the space environment and safeguard critical space assets as the country’s space activities expand.With the foundation stone now laid, the Chandrapur centre is set to become part of India’s expanding space situational awareness infrastructure under Project NETRA.