Assam Grants 70-Acre Plot to ISRO for New Radar Facility in Guwahati

On Monday, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the state’s donation of 200 bighas—about 70 acres—to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The land sits in Chandrapur, a suburb of Guwahati, and will become the site of a new ISTRAC Advanced Radar Research Facility. The ceremony, marked by a foundation stone laying and a Bhoomi Pooja, was attended by Keshab Mahanta, the state’s Science and Technology Minister, and ISRO officials.

Chandrapur once housed a thermal power plant, but the site has been earmarked for a high‑tech installation that will track and study space activities. ISRO says the radar will feed data to government agencies and scientific institutions, enabling better monitoring of satellite launches and debris. The project is part of a national effort to expand India’s space surveillance network, especially after recent concerns over space debris.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said the facility will enhance India’s ability to monitor orbital objects and support defense and commercial satellite operations. ISTRAC Director M R Raghavendra added that the centre will provide real‑time telemetry and command services for future missions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier approval of the project underscores the central government’s push to decentralise space research.

Sarma highlighted the project’s potential to put Assam on the map for space science, promising continued state support for future expansion. "If ISRO wants to grow the facility, the state will provide whatever resources are needed," he said. The next steps involve finalising site preparations and beginning construction in the coming months.