A short term Course on Bridge Engineering for Assam PWD Engineers was organized at IIT Kanpur during 18th January - 1st February 2005. Professor Kripa Shanker, Deputy Director IITK inaugurated the course on 18th January 2005 morning. Professor S.K. Jain is the Course Coordinator. Dr. Bharat Lohani, Dr. Durgesh Rai, Dr.Onkar Dixit, Dr. Sudhir Mishra, Dr. Partha Chakroborty and Dr. K.K. Bajpai are the key resource persons for this course.

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Nineteen engineers from Assam Public Works Department are participating in this short course.Professor Bharat Lohani, welcomed the participants. He stressed on the need of different engineering aspects in the designing of bridges especially geo-informatics, earthquake, and hydraulics. He expressed hope that the participants will make best use of this opportunity.

Professor Sudhir K. Jain, Coordinator of the course stressed on need of information exchange between practicing engineers and researchers. He encouraged the participants to interact with the faculty members during the course. Professor Jain praised the efforts of Shri A.P. Borgohain, Commissioner to the Government of Assam, PWD at Guwahati to take keen interest in making administrative approval for this course for the training of Assam PWD engineers at IIT Kanpur.

Professor Bithin Datta, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Kanpur in his address informed about the leadership taken by the civil engineering department through the National Programme of Earthquake Engineering Education (NPEEE) and the National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE) at IIT Kanpur. He asked the participants to take full advantage of their stay at IIT Kanpur through interaction with faculty members from other groups in the department. He mentioned about release of various publications through NICEE especially the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)'s monograph on Fundamentals of Seismic Protection for Bridges.

The course was inaugurated by Professor Kripa Shanker, Deputy Director, IIT Kanpur. Professor Kripa Shanker in his inaugural speech praised the leadership being undertaken by the Department of Civil Engineering in organizing short term courses for teachers as well as professional engineers. He mentioned about the importance of such courses and to tackle the challenges of making bridges especially long span bridges. He also stressed the need of managerial capabilities in the practicing engineers for successful completion of important projects. He welcomed the participants and invited them to interact with faculty members of IIT Kanpur who have expertise in various areas of research other than earthquake engineering.

Dr. K. K. Bajpai proposed the vote of thanks and offered on behalf of organizing committee at IIT Kanpur all help to the participants.