The Department recently hosted the highly successful Sixth International Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction Management (SECON’25), held from June 4 to June 6, 2025. This flagship event, conducted in a hybrid mode to ensure greater accessibility and global engagement, served as a crucial platform for innovative research, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among civil engineering professionals, academics, and students worldwide.
At the heart of SECON’25 was its forward-thinking theme: “Deconstruction: The Key to Unlocking Circular Universe in Civil Engineering”. This theme underscored the vital role of deconstruction - the careful disassembly and reuse of building components - in achieving a circular economy within the built environment. The "Civil Engineering’s Circular Universe" paradigm aims to design out waste, keep materials in use, and regenerate natural systems, moving away from traditional linear practices to conserve resources, reduce carbon emissions, and minimise environmental impact.
A major highlight of SECON’25 was the commitment to knowledge dissemination, with selected high-quality papers set for publication in two volumes of the Scopus-indexed Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering series by Springer Nature. Springer Nature generously covered all publication-related expenses, ensuring free and wide access to impactful research outputs.
Keynote sessions during the main conference delivered strategic insights into:
The conference also featured impactful pre-conference events, including the Website Spotlight (#SECON25JigSaw1.0) and a technical talk on "Engineering Seismology and Learning from Past Earthquakes" by AICTE Distinguished Professional Dr. Katta Venkataramana.
SECON’25 successfully fostered interdisciplinary engagement and advanced discussions on sustainability, digital innovation, and lifecycle optimisation in the built environment. As the Department of Civil Engineering at FISAT continues to build on this momentum, we look forward to nurturing future-ready civil engineers equipped to lead in a circular, sustainable world.
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Sreerath S, AP CE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge on 06/06/25 (Friday), constructed over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. He also flagged off two specially designed Vande Bharat trains between Srinagar and Katra,
It is the highest arch bridge in the world, with a deck height of 359 meters from the riverbed - making it 35 meters taller than Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower.
The Chenab railway bridge is a steel-and-concrete marvel spanning 1,315 meters across the river gorge. It consists of a 530-meter-long approach bridge and a 785-meter-long deck arch bridge (the part of the bridge on which vehicles run)
The bridge is designed for a lifespan of 120 years and can support train speeds of up to 100 km per hour. It is capable of withstanding earthquakes up to magnitude 8 on the Richter scale, as well as high-intensity explosions equivalent to 40 tonnes of TNT.
The steel structure is built to endure extreme weather conditions, including temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of up to 266 km per hour.
What makes this project really marvellous is the challenges it posed and how the civil engineers and other technocrats worked together to resolve the problems and hence turned the dream to reality.Although the project was approved in 2008, construction was delayed for a time due to concerns over stability and safety in the challenging Himalayan terrain.
This bridge showcases the brilliance of engineering, overcoming extreme geographical challenges to connect Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. Building the Chenab Bridge was a massive challenge due to the steep slopes, strong winds, and seismic activity in the region. Engineers had to design a structure that could withstand earthquakes and extreme weather conditions
Some key engineering solutions are:
Arch Design: The bridge features a deck arch design, which distributes weight efficiently and provides stability.
High-Strength Steel: Special steel was used to ensure durability and resistance to harsh conditions.
Wind and Seismic Resistance: The bridge can withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km/h and is designed to endure earthquakes.
To stabilize the slopes and to improve the soil strength, Grouting was done to increase the bearing capacity of the soil. This was done after cutting the steep slopes of the mountains to suitable or workable slopes. The engineers used rock anchors to stabilize the bridge against shifting terrain. Shotcreting was also done on the surface of the slopes. Once the foundation was built the next major task was the erecting of arch. For this, a large crane system was also erected to transport and support the materials.
The project was overseen by the Konkan Railway Corporation, a division of Indian Railways. The design and construction were carried out by a joint venture involving Afcons Infrastructure, South Korea-based Ultra Construction & Engineering Company, and VSL India. The design for the bridge’s foundation protection was prepared by Dr. Madhavi Latha, then Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. IIT Delhi conducted the slope stability analysis, while both IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee handled the seismic analysis. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) helped in making the bridge blast-proof. The bridge was built at a cost of around Rs 1,400 crore.
The Chenab Bridge is a testament to India’s engineering excellence, and the dedication of experts like Dr. Madhavi Latha has made it possible. It stands as a symbol of innovation, perseverance, and connectivity, inspiring future civil engineers to push the boundaries of construction technology. As you can see a number of experts worked together in this project and now the country is proud of them. Hope it inspired you too..
To read more about this engineering marvel, here are a few links:
Chenab Bridge | How a Modern Engineering Marvel was Built?
It is a proud and defining moment for the Department as we celebrate the remarkable placement achievements of the B.Tech Batch of 2021–2025.
With offers from 30+ reputed core companies, our students have once again proven their technical proficiency, professionalism, and readiness to excel in the real world. From structural consultancies to renowned construction firms and design houses, our students have earned positions that align with their academic training and career aspirations.
This success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and perseverance, supported by the strong academic foundation, practical exposure, and mentorship provided by the department and the institution’s placement and training cell.
A total of 36 students have been successfully placed. The top recruitersinclude Loham Group, Aarbee Structures, Prime Meridian, D Life Interiors, Sobha Ltd, Asset Homes, among others. The highest CTC offered this year was ₹5.80 LPA. The recruiting companies represented a diverse range of sectors, including structural design, construction, interiors, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing), and consultancy services.
Join us in congratulating these future engineers as they embark on their professional journeys - ready to shape the built environment with skill, passion, and integrity.
Heartfelt Congratulations to Our Placed Students! We wish each one of them great success in their careers ahead!
