Two-day national conference “InfraEM Bharat – Engineering the Atma Nirbhar Future” begins at National Institute of Technology Srinagar

• Conference theme aligns perfectly with the vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat: Director

SRINAGAR: A two-day national conference titled “InfraEM Bharat – Engineering the Atma Nirbhar Future” began at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Monday, bringing together experts, researchers, and academicians from across the country to deliberate on innovations and sustainable solutions for building a self-reliant India.

Jointly organized by the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering. The conference was formally inaugurated by Prof. Roohie Naaz Mir, In-charge Director, NIT Srinagar, along with Prof. J.A. Bhat, Head, Department of Civil Engineering, and Prof. Mohammad Shafi Mir, senior faculty member.

The organizing committee includes Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia (Director and Chief Patron), Prof. Atikur Rahman (Registrar), HOD Civil, Prof. Javed Bhat, and Dr. Srinibash Mishra (HOD, MME) as Patrons; Dr. Vivek and Dr. Nitika Kundan as Conference Chairperson; Dr. Anshul Gupta, and Dr. Janani L as Organizing Secretaries.

In his message, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director NIT Srinagar, said the conference theme aligns perfectly with the vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat, underscoring the role of engineers in developing sustainable, resilient, and future-ready infrastructure. “I congratulate the organizing team for their efforts in curating a platform that encourages meaningful dialogue among experts, scholars, and practitioners,” he said.

In her keynote address, Prof. Roohie Naaz Mir, In-charge Director, NIT Srinagar, reflected on the rapid pace of technological transformation over the past few decades. “Thirty-five years ago, when we began exploring computing, we never imagined how the world would change,” she said. “The advent of internet communication technologies and advances in materials science transformed everything around us. We must continue to explore new ideas and innovations to sustain this momentum.”

Prof. Roohie also emphasized the importance of integrating advanced materials with infrastructure innovation to achieve the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Prof. Javed Bhat, Head, Department of Civil Engineering, and Chairman Research, said materials research remains one of the most active domains at NIT Srinagar. “Many researchers are working on materials, yet we need to diversify and address other pressing problems in infrastructure. I hope the conference yields meaningful recommendations that can be uploaded to the website for further course of action,” he said.

Prof. Mohammad Shafi Mir, former Dean of Academics and senior faculty member, highlighted the close relationship between materials science and infrastructure performance. “The quality of infrastructure directly depends on the quality of materials used. With field conditions becoming increasingly unpredictable, from extreme temperatures to variable terrain,s sustainable practices such as recycling and reuse have become essential,” he said.

Prof. Mir added that the insights and presentations from the conference would inspire students and scholars to pursue deeper research. Registrar NIT Srinagar, Prof. Atikur Rehman, said conferences of this nature provide excellent opportunities for knowledge sharing, academic dialogue, and industry-academia collaboration.

“The theme, with its focus on self-reliance and sustainability, reflects the pressing need for innovation and resilience in infrastructure and materials engineering, in line with our national goals,” he added. In his message, Dr. Srinibash Mishra, Head (I/C), Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, said materials engineering plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of infrastructure, energy, transport, and manufacturing.

“The progress of any nation is linked with advances in materials research and sustainable applications. This conference offers a valuable platform for exchanging ideas between academia and industry,” he said. Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Vivek, Conference Chairperson, said the event is not just an academic gathering but “a celebration of ideas, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.”

“It brings together two streams of engineering — one that builds the foundations of our world, and another that defines its strength to create something truly transformative,” he said. He noted that Civil and Metallurgical Engineering, though distinct, share a common goal of achieving strength, resilience, and sustainability.

“Civil engineers design structures that shape society; metallurgical engineers develop materials that make them endure. InfraEM 2025 is the stage where structure meets substance, and imagination meets engineering,” Dr. Vivek said. He added that this year’s theme, sustainable infrastructure and material innovation, resonates with the global pursuit of greener, smarter, and longer-lasting technologies.

Day one of the conference featured an engaging inaugural session followed by keynote lectures and technical presentations. Prof. Ashok Sharma, FIE, Chartered Engineer, Ex-Professor & Head, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, MNIT Jaipur, on “An Integrated Metallurgical Approach to Transformation and Recrystallization Phenomena in Steels.”

Dr. Sandeep Sahu, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi, on “Severe Plastic Deformation for Microstructure and Property Modification in Additive Manufacturing.” Dr. Priyansh Singh, Assistant Professor, IIT Indore, on “Multi-Method Framework for Pervious Concrete Design.” Post-lunch sessions were divided into two thematic tracks, including Civil Engineering and Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, featuring student and faculty presentations on emerging trends and research findings.