ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a Rs37 million project for upgradation of research laboratory of Department of Transportation Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) of the Commission held recently, said an official statement.

The project aims to strengthen the MSc engineering programme of the university in Transportation Department with an intake of 20 students leading to PhD studies.

The main objective of the project is to upgrade the professional competence of engineers and technologists by launching continuing engineering education programmes bearing transportation and proper research environment for interaction of manpower and tools of research for applied and productive research.

It would also promote and expand scope of transportation engineering at the national level on the basis of research and investigation.

Under the project, the existing labs of the Department of Transportation Engineering would be upgraded by installing the most sophisticated modern equipment for research purposes.

The project would produce highly-qualified manpower that would be capable of utilising their skills in the public and private sector organizations such as National Highway Authority, Railway and Shipping, C & W department and other related industries.

Electronic components like batteries, ICs, resistance, capacitors, computer accessories etc would be purchased for routine repairs and maintenance of the laboratory equipment.