Chennai: The CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Nepal-based Mudbhary and Joshi Construction Pvt. Ltd. (MJCPL) for testing a 132kV Double Circuit “DA” type suspension tower.

The agreement, signed on September 1, 2025, marks a significant step in strengthening CSIR-SERC's global footprint in the domain of transmission tower testing. The institute, a premier national laboratory under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), specialises in analysis, design, and experimental studies on structures and structural components, including transmission and communication towers.

The MoA was formalised by Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC, and Shri Kiran Kumar Mudbhary, Managing Director of MJCPL. Senior scientists including Dr. K. Sathish Kumar, Dr. M.B. Anoop, and Dr. R. Balagopal, along with technical officers, were present during the signing.

Officials said the collaboration aims to leverage CSIR-SERC's advanced facilities and expertise in structural testing. “This agreement positions CSIR-SERC on a global platform in the critical area of transmission tower testing,” the institute said in a statement.