Project works for engineering students from Maharashtra will soon change its structure – from monotonous laboratory works to real-time issues faced by society. Starting from water-supply problems at a locality to sewage water issues in another and from traffic or transport issues in a city to replacing the traditional ‘chulha’ in rural areas with new-age technologies, all these problems will be on the radar as Maharashtra government has decided to include engineering colleges in development works for the state.

As per an order issued by the state government, all engineering colleges will be able to take up different projects. This is expected to help colleges have real-time problem statements to work on while government will be able to take advantage of professors’ expertise and students’ innovative approach. Students will be given credits for these works. Government has decided to the follow model of Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), which has been taking up such projects for over three decades now. A committee has been formed, comprising government authorities as well as engineering college officials, to design a plan.