By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 1: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya has decided to set up a dedicated Structural Engineering and Health Monitoring Centre in the permanent campus at Saitsohpen, Sohra.
Director Pinakeswar Mahanta disclosed this on Tuesday during an interaction with media persons.
The decision has been made in accordance with a suggestion made by Prof Amitav Ghosh, Platinum Jubilee Senior Scientist of the National Academy of Sciences, India.
Talking about the importance of research and consultancy in structural engineering, particularly in the Northeast, Mahanta said, “So far, we have been providing consultancy services for structural projects, but with a dedicated center, we can take this further with in-depth research and student involvement.”
This year’s Institute Day held special significance as it was the first major event since the entire university shifted to the 320-acre permanent campus in Sohra in February.
The director shared the details of the phased transition process that began in May last year with laboratory equipment being moved first, followed by student hostels and quarters of faculty members.
“We faced some logistical challenges, especially in relocating hostels, but with the support of our faculty members and staff, the transition has been smooth. As of now, 82% of the work is complete, and the remaining construction will be finished within three to four months,” he added.
The proposed Structural Engineering and Health Monitoring Center will require formal approvals and funding, which NIT Meghalaya plans to seek from the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Education. “We aim to launch it in a phased manner, starting within the next two to three months,” Mahanta said.
The celebration was marked by the presence of distinguished guests. Amitav Ghosh delivered a keynote lecture on “Astronomical Dating of Ancient Indian Scriptures and Epics – Building a Science-Based Timeline for Ancient India.”
Another major highlight was an extramural lecture by Rakesh Sehgal (HAG), NIT Hamirpur, on the start-up ecosystem and fostering innovation among students.
International collaborations were also a focal point, with participation from Wang Yi and Nicole Frei of Hamburg University of Technology and Antje Katzschner from the University of Hamburg. They discussed the significance of research partnerships, student exchange programmes and global outreach.
The director acknowledged recent complaints about infrastructure issues, including leaks in some buildings following a hailstorm.
“Even my quarters had water leakage that we have now addressed. There were minor concerns related to food and sanitation, but these are maintenance issues that will be resolved over time. The administration is actively working with students to ensure smooth operations,” he assured.
On the issue of labour concerns raised by local groups about workers from outside, the director clarified that work had briefly halted due to documentation issues of labourers.
“We have instructed the contractor to ensure proper documentation, and work will resume by mid-April,” he said.