Pithampur’s massive industrial hub still lacks testing lab:Proposed high-tech facility likely shifting to Ujjain despite Indore region’s larger industrial presence

Despite being considered Madhya Pradesh’s industrial “Detroit” with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh crore, the Indore-Pithampur industrial region still does not have a high-tech testing laboratory. Now, industry leaders fear another major facility may move away from Indore after indications emerged that a proposed advanced Central India testing lab could be established in Ujjain instead. Indore industry may lose another major facility After the formation of the Ujjain-Indore Metropolitan Authority from the earlier Indore Metropolitan Authority, concerns are growing within Indore’s industrial sector over the shifting of key infrastructure projects. Recently, a workshop involving the National Test House (NTH) and the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) discussed plans for a high-tech testing laboratory for Central India. Industrialists had expected the facility to come up in the Indore-Pithampur industrial belt. However, according to administrative sources, NTH officials have informally agreed to establish the facility at Vikram Udyogpuri in Ujjain. Officials are also reportedly considering future expansion of the same laboratory, although no official announcement has been made yet. Pithampur industry raises objection The Pithampur Industrial Organisation has submitted industrial data to authorities, demanding that the laboratory be established in the Indore-Pithampur region instead. Industry representatives argue that despite having over 1,500 industries, annual turnover exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh crore and being one of Madhya Pradesh’s largest export hubs, the region still depends on laboratories in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi for testing and certification work. Ujjain’s high-tech lab may begin operations in June The proposed advanced laboratory is expected to begin operations by the end of June at the Medical Device Park being developed across 360 hectares in Ujjain. Interestingly, only around 10% of the industrial capacity in the park is currently operational. According to MPIDC, the laboratory will focus on testing and research related to medical devices, plastic products and polymer materials. Officials say the facility could also reduce the need for industries in Indore and Pithampur to send samples outside the state for testing. Facilities planned at the high-tech lab The proposed laboratory is expected to offer several advanced testing and research services, including: Electronics testing lab in Indore already shut down Industrial bodies say this is not the first time Indore has lost a major testing facility. In 1991, the Central Government had allotted five acres of land and expensive equipment for an electronics testing laboratory at Indore’s Electronic Complex. However, between 2018 and 2020, the laboratory was shut down and its equipment was shifted to Bhopal. Despite the closure, more than 100 MSMEs are still operating in the Electronic Complex area. According to Anuj Upadhyay, secretary of the Electronic Complex Association, industries now have to travel to Pune and Noida for product testing. Food and Drug testing lab also partially non-functional Another concern raised by industries is the delayed commissioning of the Food and Drug Testing Laboratory at Lasudia Mori in Indore. The Rs 8.5 crore laboratory has reportedly remained largely non-operational since October 2025 due to pending safety audits and certification approvals. Although the NABL audit has been completed, officials said certification and food safety audits are still pending even after eight months. Authorities expect the laboratory to become fully operational by July. Currently, the lab is only testing drug samples being sent from Bhopal. The project had originally started in August 2020 and was scheduled for completion in 2022.