People Oppose Shifting Of DRDO’s VRDE Lab Out Of Maharashtra
Pune, 10th January 2021: Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is planning to shift its Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) lab to somewhere else. Preparations are underway, however, a section of the employees seem to oppose this decision.
The DRDO has proposed a merger plan for its laboratories which are having similar work functions. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also given a green signal for this proposal and the merger process began in the last few days.
According to this plan, the VRDE lab will be shifted to either Chennai or somewhere else. This decision was opposed by many residents and political leaders from Ahmednagar as it will impact the employment opportunities of thousands of people working in the lab.
Recently NCP MLA Lanke met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and discussed the issue with him. He also gave him a letter in which Lanke requested to Pawar take up the matter with MoD and to halt the shifting.
“The central government has decided to close the lab soon and relocate all its employees. However, this decision will affect 1000 families in Ahmednagar and will also hamper the development of villages near Ahmednagar city”, Lanke said.
Established in the year 1929, VRDE was first set up in the Rawalpindi district which is currently in Pakistan. After Independence, the facility was shifted to Ahmadnagar in the year 1947. The VRDE is located on Ahmednagar-Daund road. It has developed important defence equipment for Indian armed forces especially the vehicles which are needed by the forces.
The lab has also developed a vehicle testing track facility for testing and certification of vehicles. All vehicles which are developed for Indian armed forces are being tested and certified in this facility.
