IIT Madras, Bechtel India launch Rs 3.30 crore construction robotics lab to boost research, innovation

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has inaugurated a new robotics laboratory on its campus worth Rs 3.30 crore. This IIT Madras lab will help in research and industry applications in the sectors of construction and infrastructure. The robotics laboratory was inaugurated on September 22, 2026, based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between IIT Madras and Bechtel India Private Limited.

The lab has been set up with funding support under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of Bechtel India Private Limited. This IIT Madras and Bechtel India Private Limited partnership will also create a link between academic research and industry.

Emphasising the critical role of the industry in supporting cutting-edge research in academia, Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras, said, “Our partnership with Bechtel will enable IIT Madras to address industry-relevant challenges in construction robotics and automation, while creating opportunities to test, demonstrate, and take promising technologies closer to deployment.”

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IIT Madras robotics lab to focus on construction technology

Projects that are created in this IIT Madras lab could be translated into research papers, patents, prototypes and demonstrations of technology appropriate for the construction sector.

The lab will also give opportunities to students so that they can work with industry professionals and get practical exposure in robotics. Bechtel India will add inputs for curriculum development and also give mentorship opportunities. Bechtel offices will also give Internships to selected candidates.

Addressing the event about the expected impact of the upcoming lab, Raja Yeluri, managing director, Bechtel India, said, “This partnership gives IIT Madras students and faculty, and industry engineers a shared space to turn real construction challenges into automated solutions — and to build the talent our industry will need over the next several decades. We are proud to be learning alongside India's premier institution, and together, shaping the future of construction.”

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Lab will strengthen industry collaboration

The lab will be operated by IIT Madras faculty members T Asokan and Koshy Varghese. The MoU was signed by Ashwin Mahalingam, along with the two faculty members and representatives from Bechtel India.

The institute said the collaboration will be a long-term partnership wherein projects and applications will be developed over a period of next five to ten years. The lab will also give research opportunities for students who are pursuing master’s programmes. These can help build skills in areas of construction robotics.