IIT Madras and Bechtel India Launch Robotics Lab Worth 3.37 Crores

Lab Launch

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, has opened a new robotics laboratory on its campus, built with a total cost of 3.30 crore rupees in partnership with Bechtel India. The facility focuses on advancing research, innovation, and practical applications in robotics and automation specifically for the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Key Partnerships

The formal agreement was signed by Professor Ashwin Mahalingam, who is the Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras, along with institute faculty members Professor T. Asokan and Professor Koshy Varghese, who will lead the new lab. On the industry side, the MoU was signed by Raja Yeluri, who serves as the managing director of Bechtel India Private Limited, and Ravi Tata, who is the robotics manager at the company. The opening event was attended by various students, staff, faculty, and other leaders from both organizations.

Student Benefits

According to an official press statement from the institute, the partnership will help students and researchers work on real-world projects, testing, and technology demonstrations using Bechtel's engineering, procurement, and construction expertise. Bechtel India will also help shape the course curriculum, provide mentorship through industry professionals, and offer internship opportunities at company offices for selected candidates. The new workspace will support joint research, consulting, and technology development, which aims to create research papers, patents, prototypes, and help students build careers in deep-tech and advanced engineering roles.