MANTRA Surat, ATIRA Ahmedabad Earn National Recognition for Indian Railways Jacket Testing

SURAT : Gujarat’s textile research ecosystem has received a major national endorsement with two of its premier institutions—MANTRA in Surat and ATIRA in Ahmedabad—being invited by Indian Railways to undertake quality testing of winter jackets used by railway employees. The selection by the South East Central Railway (SECR), Bilaspur, places the two Gujarat-based institutes among a select group of nationally recognised and NABL-accredited laboratories entrusted with evaluating protective railway uniforms.

The move is being seen as a significant milestone for Gujarat’s textile research and testing capabilities, reinforcing the state’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in scientific evaluation, quality assurance and textile innovation.

According to the technical specifications issued by South East Central Railway, the winter jackets must undergo comprehensive testing under various Indian Standards (IS). These include verification of fibre composition, GSM, weave quality, colour fastness, polyfill insulation, non-woven inner lining, taffeta fabric, lining stitches, zipper quality and the performance of 50 mm reflective tape. Certification from a NABL-accredited laboratory has been made mandatory for all quality assessments.

MANTRA, an institution under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, has been selected because of its advanced testing infrastructure and internationally recognised laboratory facilities. The institute houses NABL-accredited laboratories capable of conducting physical, chemical, functional and performance testing of technical textiles, protective clothing, electrical fabrics and other specialised materials.

“MANTRA has state-of-the-art testing equipment, NABL-accredited laboratories and an experienced scientific and technical team capable of carrying out quality testing of railway winter jackets as per all prescribed Indian Standards,” said Dr. Pankaj Gandhi, Director (Registrar), MANTRA and Eminent Scientist in the Textile and Material Science Department.

He added, “Our institute has the complete capability and infrastructure to scientifically evaluate the physical, chemical, durability, performance and safety parameters of textile uniforms. Being entrusted with quality testing for an organisation of national importance like Indian Railways is a matter of pride not only for MANTRA but also for Surat, South Gujarat and the entire state.”