With India emerging as the 'diabetes capital' of the world, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is to launch a mobile testing unit for diabetes in Goa Sunday, the British patrons of the initiative said Thursday.

The bus, known as a Mobile Diabetes Assessment Unit, can test for diabetes within minutes and has been donated by the British-based Silver Star charity, with whom Bachchan works as its international patron.

The fourth edition of the World Diabetes Atlas, released in Montreal this week, estimated that by 2010 about 50.8 million Indians in the 20-79 age group will have diabetes, rising to 87 million by 2030 - the highest in the world.

However, most Indians do not have easy access to diagnostic centres - a gap that mobile units can help plug.

The bus, which comes with testing equipment, a bed and washing facilities, will travel across Goa providing free diabetes testing.

Silver Star founder and British MP Keith Vaz said: "It is predicted that by 2025 India will be the diabetes capital of the world. Work needs to begin now to prevent this from happening."

"I am so delighted that Amitabh Bachchan will be in Goa to launch the bus. Lending his name to such a good cause will actually save lives."