Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 30

As part of its restructuring process, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has shut down three of its laboratories and merged its mandate and staff with other establishments.

Minimising functional overlap

This is the first step towards minimising functional overlap between laboratories having a similar charter and rationalising expenditure, sources said. More laboratories are expected to be shut down or merged in the near future.

Two laboratories in Delhi — the Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL) and the Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) — and one in Hyderabad — Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group (ANURAG) — are now no longer functional as independent entities.

This is the first step towards minimising functional overlap between laboratories having a similar charter and rationalising expenditure, sources said. More laboratories are expected to be shut down or merged in the near future.

Two laboratories in Delhi — the Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL) and the Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) — and one in Hyderabad — Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group (ANURAG) — are now no longer functional as independent entities. The DTRL was involved in the analysis of terrain characteristics and providing geo-spatial solutions and terrain intelligence for the armed forces. Its staff has now been merged with Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment (SASE) based in Chandigarh that is working in avalanche forecasting, structural control in snowbound mountaineous areas, data collection in cryospheric regions.