IEI Coimbatore conducts 14th Dr V Ramakrishnan Endowment Lecture

The Institution of Engineers (India), Coimbatore Local Centre {IE(I) Coimbatore} organized the 14th Dr V Ramakrishnan Endowment Lecture in association with Department of Civil Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore on Friday, 27 February 2026 at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.

Dr M Senthilkumar, Chairman, IE(I) Coimbatore Local Centre welcomed & presided over the meeting.            Prof. C.G Sivakumar, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, PSG College of Technology delivered a felicitation address. Dr S Praveen Kumar, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, PSG College of Technology briefed about the Dr V Ramakrishnan Endowment Lecture. Dr A K Priya, Committee Member, IE(I) Coimbatore Local Centre introduced the guest speaker. 

Dr. V. Ramakrishnan is a well known name in the engineering circles. His academic journey began from the University of Madras and he went on to collect a lot of laurels inclusing Ph.D. from Imperial College London in 1960. He embarked on more than three decades of pioneering research in fiber-reinforced concrete and composite materials that led to publication of over 250 international publications that shaped modern concrete technology. He played a pivotal transformational role in strengthening Civil Engineering education and research culture at PSG College of Technology and beyond. The vision behind instituting the Endowment Lecture from 2008 was to promote knowledge dissemination and academic excellence related to Civil Engineering that would benefit academicians, researchers, engineers, industrialists and students, 

The Chief Guest for the occasion was Shri W R Harinarayanaraj, Chief Executive Officer, Construction Skill Development Council of India. He delivered the 14th Dr V Ramakrishnan Endowment Lecture titled “Urban Transformation in Tier-II and Tier-III Cities: Shaping the Next Wave of Economic Growth”. Shri W R Harinarayanaraj elaborated  on  Urban transformation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and how they are emerging as a powerful driver of India’s next phase of economic growth. He threw light on technical nuances in urban planning aimed at improved infrastructure, digital connectivity, industrial corridors and smart governance. He also listed out the challenges in attracting investments beyond metropolitan regions and the Government initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT that are strengthening urban services and sustainability. He concluded the lecture listing the developments that are positioning smaller cities as dynamic hubs of inclusive and balanced regional development.

The endowment lecture was special as it had the nonagerian Dr V Ramakrishnan himself in attendance along with senior professors and researchers in Civil Engineering. The event was well attended by IEI Coimbatore Local Centre members, practicing engineers, academicians and students. They were all unanimous in their opinion that the 14^th Dr V Ramakrishnan Endowment Lecture was very useful and effectively presented. They expressed gratitude to Shri W R Harinarayanaraj and Dr.V.Ramakrishnan. The Endowment Lecture was concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr J Pradeep Kumar, Honorary Secretary, IE(I) Coimbatore Local Centre introduced the Chief Guest to the members