CHIEF Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Monday said engineers have a crucial role in transforming development plans into reality through technology, innovation and technical expertise. He called upon engineers to contribute to the vision of a developed Madhya Pradesh. Addressing the Statelevel Engineers’ Day celebration at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre in Bhopal, Yadav paid floral tribute to Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya on latter’s birth anniversary and highlighted his pioneering contributions to water management, irrigation, industrial development and institution building. Yadav said India’s rich architectural heritage continues to inspire modern engineering. He cited the Kailash Temple at Ellora, Dharmarajeshwar Temple in Mandsaur, ancient water structures and sculptures as examples of the technical excellence of India’s engineers and artisans in ancient times. The Chief Minister honoured outstanding engineers, officers, joint teams and construction agencies for their contributions to infrastructure development, quality, timely completion, technological innovation and environmental protection. He also released a compendium of Public Works Department circulars issued over the past 10 years. The Public Works Department and CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal, signed a memorandum of understanding for sustainable infrastructure development. The agreement will facilitate access to technology for constructing concrete roads without cement. Yadav said green building technology would also be adopted in government buildings being constructed in Madhya Pradesh.

 

The Chief Minister praised the department for adopting environment-friendly construction materials and modern technologies. He urged engineers to undertake innovative projects in the public interest and assured them of the State Government’s support for positive initiatives. Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh said research, discipline, quality and innovation should become the core of the department’s work culture. He described engineers as builders of Madhya Pradesh’s development and said the guiding principle of the department should be “Lok Nirman Se Lok Kalyan”, meaning public welfare through public construction. The Government has announced an Engineering Training and Research Institute in Madhya Pradesh to promote engineering research, innovation and professional training. Officials said more than 85 per cent of PWD engineers had received training at four leading engineering institutions over the past nine months. PWD Principal Secretary Sukhveer Singh said road safety measures and modern construction practices were being incorporated into road projects. He added that accidents at identified black spots had declined over the past nine months. The Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation is expected to undertake works worth approximately Rs 2 lakh crore over the next year, officials said. Engineers and teams from the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation, Madhya Pradesh Building Development Corporation and Public Works Department were among those honoured with awards in five categories named after Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Vishwakarma, Vikramaditya, Rani Durgavati and Raja Bhoj. Senior Government officials, engineers, retired engineers, representatives of construction agencies and other dignitaries attended the programme.