Bharati (research station)

Facilities

The project for setting up of the ground was undertaken by the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for a contract value of ₹230 crore (US$24 million). The station building, with a floor area of 2,162 square metres (23,270 sq ft), was constructed in 127 days. The station can host a total of 72 personnel, 47 in the main building all year round and an additional 25 in shelters during summer. The main station building is supported by a fuel farm and station, sea water pump and a summer camp.

This station is also being utilized by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for Antarctica Ground Station for Earth Observation Satellites (AGEOS), for receiving Indian Remote sensing Satellite (IRS) (like CARTOSAT-2, SCATSAT-1, RESOURCESAT-2/2A and CARTOSAT-1 satellites) raw data and beaming back this high-speed satellite raw data in real time from Bharati Station to NRSC in Hyderabad for processing the images since mid 2010s.

In 2007, ECIL also established the communication link between Maitri, the second Indian research station in Antarctica, and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). Among others, research on tectonics and geological structures would be undertaken at Bharati Station by Indian scientists.

India also became the first nation to use the shipping containers as integral part of construction and hence constructing its base in record time and money.