JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 15: The 59th Engineers’ Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu Local Centre at its Institutional Complex. The day coincided with the commemoration of the 165th birth anniversary of India’s greatest Engineer -Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar was the Chief Guest and Managing Director J&K State Power Development Corporation Ltd. Rahul Yadav was the Guest of Honour. FIE Chairman Er. Anil Verma; FIE Honorary Secretary Er. Avneet Gupta and a large number of engineers from different departments and organizations attended the function.
In his address, the Divisional Commissioner paid rich tributes to Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya and honoured his legacy. He said that Engineers decide and shape the future of a nation. “They not only build infrastructure but also play a role in every industrial and commercial activity,” he added. He exhorted the engineers to lay focus on the planning aspect of engineering, make use of AI for the betterment of mankind and sustainable future keeping in view the moral and ethical drawbacks of the same. “A lot has changed since independence and engineers have to play a bigger role in Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047,” he stressed.
Rahul Yadav highlighted the contribution of Sir. M. Visvesvarya. He said that our engineers are becoming more of administrators than engineers. He further advised that Engineers should handhold the projects right from conception to completion. He also asked them to focus more on the design and engineering part rather than managerial roles.
Earlier, Er. Anil Verma presented the welcome address on the theme “Engineering Excellence for a Sustainable and Technologically Sovereign India.” He cited many initiatives of engineers in the country which have resulted in the creation of technological marvels. “Start of hydrogen fuel cell powered train in July, 2026 in Jind – Sonipat section of Northern Railway and launch of first Interlinking of rivers project in Dec, 2024 for linking Ken and Betwa rivers to serve water starved Bundelkhand region interalia many others exemplary feats of engineers personify India’s technological sovereignty,” he noted.
The Engineers paid rich Tributes to Sir M. Visvesvaraya and highlighted his sterling qualities like Austerity, Integrity, Competence and Discipline.
Later, Er. Virinder Sethi, Former Senior Manager, NHPC Ltd. & Former Director, JP Group of Industries was honoured with IEI Award for his lifetime services rendered to the engineering profession and to the Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu Local Centre.
IEI, Jammu also presented R. L. Sharma Memorial Gold Medal to Er. Joy Ganjoo for presenting the Best Technical Paper, Rudra Bhagwati Silver Medal to Er. B L Rawal for presenting 2nd Best Technical Paper and IEI Bronze Medal to Er. Gopal Krishan Sharma for presenting 3rd Best Technical Paper during the year 2025-26.
Additionally, the first issue of 24th Volume of the quarterly Newsletter of Jammu Centre called IEI Jammu News was also released by the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour in presence of the Editorial Board comprising Er. Anil Verma, Chairman cum Editorial Director, Dr. Sanjay Khar, Er. P. K. Nanda, Er Sumil Goyal, Er. Amit Sethi and Er. Avneet Gupta, Hony. Secretary being its Members.
IEI also honoured Er. P. K. Nanda, Er. B. L. Rawal, Er. Gopal Krishan Sharma, Er. Ranjeev Sawhney, Er. Joy Ganjoo and Er. Anil Kumar with mementoes for presenting two or more technical papers during the year 2025–26.
The inaugural session was followed by a technical session which was chaired by Er. Hamesh Manchanda, MIE Former Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department J&K Government.
