No decision on shifting ARTRAC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 15 

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State (MoD) Shripad Naik said on Monday no decision has been made to shift the Army training command out of Shimla.

Congress’ Anand Sharma had asked “whether the government has decided to relocate HQ Army Training Command based in Shimla to Meerut”. In his reply, Naik said “No”.

Within the Army, sources said the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) is proposed for amalgamation with the Directorate General of Military Training (DGMT), which requires more space. 

This merger is part of the restructuring of the Army to merge wings whose duties overlap. ARTRAC was moved from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh to Shimla in March 1993. The proposed move to Meerut will need a formal order from the government.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had earlier lodged his protest to shift the command out of his state. In the past, the issue of shifting ARTRAC has been raised in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. 

Minister of State Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur has appealed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh not to shift the command.

ARTRAC deals with the formulation and dissemination of concepts and doctrines of warfare in the fields of strategy, operational art, tactics, logistics, training and human resource development.