Message from the Organisers

    Mr. PVVSS Ravi Prasad

   Chair, Organising Committee

The Indian National Group of the IABSE and the Organising Committee take great pleasure in extending you a warm invitation to the IABSE Congress New Delhi 2023 on “Engineering for Sustainable Development” from 20th September (Wednesday) to 22nd September (Friday), 2023. India is a vast country having magnificent heritage as well as modern structures. While planning and designing structures, their sustainability and coexistence with the environment, whilst fulfilling the need of the society are to be given due consideration and importance.

The main goal of the Congress is to create a forum for the debate on why sustainability with respect to environment, culture and social needs is important. Role of engineers is vital in addressing not only the bridge and structural engineering issues, but also basic human needs such as alleviating poverty, supplying clean water and energy, responding to natural disasters, constructing resilient infrastructure, and bridging the development divide among people and many other actions, leaving no one behind.

The Congress shall focus on the most significant issues of our time that of sustainability and role of the engineer in accomplishing this goal. It is hoped that the Congress will serve as a platform for Governments, Engineering Organizations, academia and educational institutions, and industry to forge global partnerships and strengthen collaborations so as to deliver on the global sustainability development agenda.

Besides the deep intellectual discussions at the Congress itself, you will be treated to a socio-cultural feast, be it museums, historical and religious places, arts and crafts, marketing and shopping, street food, etc. New Delhi, the capital city of India has a history dating back 3000 years with a wonderful blend of historical monuments, temples, gardens and modern civil engineering structures. Modern Delhi can boast of a 350 km long metro rail network, and expanding, with 3 million daily ridership, an extensive road network, exclusive green areas, modern luxury hotels as well as business centres. The monsoon in New Delhi recedes in late September, and the post-monsoon season continues with pleasant weather.

Going further, if you choose to, you can take in some of the best tourist attractions near Delhi like - Taj Mahal and Fort at Agra, rich heritage of Rajasthan, Himalayan foothills in the North. These are on offer as comfortable post-Congress Tours. For accompanying delegates, there will be a number of special tours planned to keep them engaged and have a glimpse of the rich heritage and culture of Delhi.

The Organising Committee is making all efforts to ensure that the best available arrangements are made for the Congress. A number of cultural evenings showcasing rich Indian tradition of dance and music are also planned to entertain you.

We are confident that this Indian experience will be a memorable for you and look forward to welcome you in New Delhi in September 2023.

Mr. PVVSS Ravi Prasad

Chair, Organising Committee, India

About The Organisers

The Indian Group of IABSE is organising the IABSE Congress New Delhi 2023. The Organising Committee (OC) is chaired by Mr. PVVSS Ravi Prasad, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Chair of the Indian Group of IABSE.

Organising Committee

PVVSS Ravi Prasad (Chair)
Vinay Kumar Rajawat (Co-Chair)
Rahul Gupta (Co-Chair)
Sanjay Kumar Nirmal
Ajay Prakash Pathak
Alok Bhowmick
Anant Kumar
Asis Kumar Banerjee
Balbir Kumar Arora
Bhesha Nand Singh
Binay Kumar Sinha
Bidhan Chandra Roy
Dinesh Kumar
Gajendra Kumar
Harshavardhan Subbarao
Jatin Singla
Manoj Kumar
Manoranjan Parida
Ravi Sinha
Rajesh Kumar Pandey
Rakesh Kumar Choubey
Ram Shankar Mahalaha
Rishi K Bansal
Santosh Kumar Singh
Sat Pal Singla
Vasant Matsagar
Vijay Pratap Singh

The Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted by United Nations in 2015 called for action by 2030 to end poverty, balance economic growth with social empowerment, and take Climate action to save the Planet. In the same year, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change required the nations to set their Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce Global warming. For these reasons, the Indian National Group of IABSE is hosting an International Congress of the IABSE on the theme “Engineering for Sustainable Development” to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences and build partnerships at the international level on innovation climate action and environmental protection.

Objective and Scope

The Congress will offer an opportunity for discussions and deliberations with a focus on Sustainability. As a body of professionals, IABSE would wish to contribute to achieving the larger Global Goals of Sustainability by using their domain knowledge and experience, further enriched by adaptation and innovation. Broad areas of the Congress may also address the built environment, disaster resilience, innovations (in materials, technologies, design procedures and codes of practices) and carbon footprints. Besides cutting-edge issues, such as mega-structures, high-rise structures, off-shore structures, new and innovative materials, technologies and structural solutions, advanced structural analysis, dynamic behaviour and analysis, digital technology and fabrication, the resilience of structures and cities can also be the subject of discussions.

About New Delhi

A symbol of the country's rich past and thriving present, Delhi is a city where ancient and modern blend seamlessly. It is a place that not only touches your pulse but even fastens it to a frenetic speed. Home to millions of people, the city takes on the unprecedented responsibilities of realizing dreams by bringing people closer and inspiring their thoughts. All this is combined with the best features of a modern city such as a metro system, bustling markets and fabulous eating places. The past and the present mould seamlessly together, making centuries-old monuments a part of the city's daily life. Delhi is very much a history's child. The story of the city is as old as the epic Mahabharata, when the town was known as Indraprastha, where the Pandavas used to live. Many empires rose to the heights of their power and were destroyed here. Among the prominent dynasties which made Delhi their capital were the Tughlaqs, the Khiljis and the Mughals.

Central Delhi, with its tree-lined avenues, imposing structures and buildings such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House and India Gate, reflects Delhi's colonial past. A number of museums provide a glimpse into the country's fascinating history. But the modern Delhi has a lot more to offer. Delhi has a modern, well planned and extensive Metro network that connects all corners of Delhi; this network is still growing. New roadways and flyovers have improved connectivity, the latest of which is the Signature Bridge, an ambitious Cable-cStayed Bridge project in Delhi – it promises to be a landmark. There are world-class stadia like the revamped Nehru Stadium that can be accessed by one and all, throughout the year. All of this has been developed and sustained while maintaining Delhi's green cover, a unique feature that distinguishes this truly global metropolis from other cities in the world where the tree line is subdued by skyscrapers. 

The old Delhi has its own charm with heritage structures and monuments, grand places of worship for all religions, traditional as well as street food places. The city has never stopped growing and developing. Some of the most recent developments include a new War Memorial right near the old War Memorial, the iconic India Gate, the under-construction Central Vista Project and new Parliament Building. 

 

  Akshardham Temple, New Delhi

 

New Delhi is the national capital of India. It is situated on the west bank of river Yamuna. From Hindu Kings to Muslim Sultans, the reins of the city kept shifting from one ruler to another. The old 'Havelis' and edifices from the past stand silent yet speaking volumes for their owners and people who lived here centuries back. It is a massive metropolitan area with two distinct parts, New Delhi and Old Delhi. In Old Delhi, Red Fort dating to 1600s stands testimony to the imposing Mughal-era, and the sprawling courtyard of Jama Masjid Mosque accommodates 25,000 people. Nearby is Chandni Chowk, a vibrant bazaar filled with food courts, sweet shops, spice stalls and so on. Several National and Internationally famed tourist attractions in and around Delhi like India Gate, Akshardham temple, Qutub minar, Lotus temple entice the visitors of all ages.

Congress Venue

Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka 

 Address: Hotel Vivanta Dwarka, Service Rd, Sector 21, Dwarka, Delhi, 110075

Experience the cultural heritage and beauty of Delhi Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka, is a five-star deluxe hotel in Delhi NCR that offers an elegant and spacious venue for IABSE Congress. It is directly connected to the heart of the city with an easy access to the Sector 21 Metro station. Hotels at various rates are available within a range of 3 km. The venue is just 11 km from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. 

              

            

Getting to Venue

By Taxi : There are various kinds of taxi services available in Delhi. You can also book a Uber or Ola cab which are available 24 hours and can be booked over the google or apple app. These cabs are clean and come fitted with functional meters and GPS. You can also write to the Conference Manager at if you need any assistance to book your airport transfers or local travel requirements.

By Metro : The Delhi Metro remains one of the fastest, most economic and best ways to travel around Delhi in air conditioned comfort. This expansive intra city rail network connects Old Delhi to Central Delhi to NCR. The metro has been divided into six lines, namely the red line, yellow line, blue line, green line, violet line and the airport line. Congress Venue is on walkable distance from the Metro station “Dwarka Sector 21” Blue Line.

Hotels

 

Click the link to book your accommodation at Vivanta Dwarka (venue): https://bookings.regcon.in

There are other budget hotels near to the conference venue as below in the range of EURO 40 to EURO 63.

If you need any assistance in booking budget hotels, please contact conference manager at congress@ingiabse.org.

Hotel Booking Terms & Conditions:

• The above-mentioned rates are only valid, if booked through conference
• The rates are on per room per night basis, inclusive of buffet breakfast and exclusive of 18% taxes
• Taxes applicable as of June 2023, in case of any changes in tax structure by the Government, the revised tax amount will be applicable and will be payable by the Delegate/Guest
• Room booking is only possible against 100% advance payment via online mode.
• The rates are exclusive of Airport Transfers, Tips, Laundry, Meals not mentioned, Room Service, Mini Bar, Phone Bills or any other services not mentioned above
• Room check-in / check-out time is as per hotel policy. In case of early arrival, room (s) to be booked from the previous day for immediate occupancy
• Check in time from 3:00 pm onwards, please plan arrival accordingly. Early Check in is subject to availability and same will be charged extra as per hotel policy if provided
• Check out time will be 12:00 noon, late check-out is subject to availability and same will be charged extra as per hotel policy if provided Extra Bed: INR 1500+ Taxes per room per night including breakfast
• Guests must carry physical ID with address at the time of check-in
• Rooms will be allotted on a first come first serve basis and are subject to availability at the time of booking with the conference organizers.

    LOCATION

Congress Format
The scientific program will include Keynote, Plenary and Parallel Sessions over three days. The official language of the Congress is English.

Who Should Attend
Engineers, Contractors, Developers & Policy Makers, Students, Scientists, Experts, Designers, and all those who are interested in advances and problems in civil engineering and structures are invited to join the Congress for the exchange of experiences, specialist knowledge and information in various fields of structural engineering.

Social Programme

A diverse and exciting social programme is being prepared for all registered participants and accompanying persons to relax and enjoy during the Congress. 

Welcome Reception & Cultural Evening

Conference Venue (Conference Venue (Tango Hall)

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

19:00 Hrs Onwards

All Participants are invited to join the official Inaugural Dinner-cum-Welcome Reception followed by Cultural Programme.

Gala Dinner

Thursday, 21 September 2023

19:00 Hrs Onwards

Venue: AAI Officers' Institute - Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi

Buses will depart from Venue Hotel, Vivanta Dwarka, Hotel Porch at 18.00 hrs to AAIOI, Safdarjung

Euro 100

Tours

Accompanying Person Programme

(Complimentary – Please contact Travel Desk for Booking)

Three optional social tours have been organized during the congress for ‘accompanying person’ to get a feel of Capital City. These tours are on complimentary offer to the people registered as Accompanying person and can be booked from travel desk at the congress venue for next day. Please note that the tours will be offered to first 20 participants booked for each tour

Visit to Qutab Minar

Date: Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Time: 14:00 - 18:00 Hrs

Qutub Minar - The Qutub Minar complex is located in Mehrauli. Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, is a remarkable testament to Islamic culture. This tower stands at a height of 72.5 meters and dates back to the 13th century. Adjacent to it is the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the first-ever mosque constructed in India. Additionally, a renowned iron pillar from the 5th century stands before the

mosque, which has remarkably remained rust-free for over 1500 years!

Visit to Delhi Haat

Date: Thursday, 21 September 2023

Time: 09:30 - 13:30 Hrs

Dilli Haat is a open-air market, food plaza, and craft bazaar located in Delhi. It transports you to the magical world of Indian art and heritage presented through a fascinating panorama of craft, cuisine and cultural activities. It is not just a marketplace; it has been visualized as a showpiece of traditional Indian culture- a forum where rural life and folk art are brought closer to an urban clientele.

Visit to Ambience Shopping Mall

Date: Thursday, 22 September 2023

Time: 09:30 - 13.30 Hrs

Ambience Mall, Gurgaon is a shopping mall in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It contains a total built-up area of 18 lakhs square feet. Most floors have a shopping area of 860 meters. Ambience Mall has more than 230 stores and food outlets. Its parking space can accommodate about 4000 vehicles.

Delhi Sightseeing Tour

Date: Tuesday, 19th September 2023

Duration: 6 Hrs (Pick up at 10 AM from Conference hotel (Vivanta, Dwarka, Delhi) and Drop back at conference venue at approx 4 pm)

Visit: The architectural marvels of Mughal Era – Humayun’s Tomb & Qutub Minar. Drive past India Gate and President House

TOUR COST : EUR 35 Per Person

For online tour booking, please visit - https://regcon.in/sp/group-tour-booking/

TOUR COST INCLUDES:

• Sightseeing by air-conditioned vehicle
• Monument Entrances (single)
• Accompanied English Speaking Guide
• All applicable taxes. 
  
  

TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Any Meals
• Items of personal like tips, camera fees etc
• Any other services / items not specified under “Tour Cost Includes…”

Qutub Minar

The Qutub Minar complex is located in Mehrauli. Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, is a remarkable testament to Islamic culture. This tower stands at a height of 72.5 meters and dates back to the 13th century. Adjacent to it is the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the first-ever mosque constructed in India. Additionally, a renowned iron pillar from the 5th century stands before the mosque, which has remarkably remained rust-free for over 1500 years!

Humayun’s Tomb 

A UNESCO World Heritage monument, was built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun. It stands as an exceptional example of Indo-Persian architecture and serves as a precursor to the Taj Mahal.

India Gate

Drive past India Gate and the President's House - India Gate is a war memorial dedicated to Indian soldiers who died during World War I. The eternal flame, fueled by gas, serves as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the nation. The President's House is a heritage building where the President of India resides.

Same Day Agra Tour

Date: Saturday, 23rd September 2023

TOUR COST: EURO 88 per person

For online tour booking, please visit - https://regcon.in/sp/group-tour-booking/

TOUR COST INCLUDES:

• Transportation in an AC vehicle
• Buffet lunch at a deluxe restaurant
• Entrance tickets for Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
• Services of English-speaking guide in Agra
• Parking, toll charges and other government taxes

TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Items of personal nature drinks, things other than specified.
• Any other personal expenses.

Itinerary : (DELHI – AGRA – DELHI) 203 Kms, Approx 4 hrs drive one way.)

0700 hrs : Pick up from conference venue hotel, (Vivanta, Dwarka, Delhi) and Drive to Agra via Yamuna Express Way.

1100 - 1230 hrs : Upon arrival in Agra, visit Taj Mahal - world famous marble mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jehan in the ever lasting memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love. Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

13:00 - 1400 hrs : Lunch at a deluxe restaurant

1415 - 1500 hrs : Visit Agra Fort which is a huge monument of red sandstone, 2 km northwest of Taj Mahal was built by the Mughals during 1565-1571. The fort contains wonderful mosques and palaces in red sandstone and white marble erected by two generations of inventive builders during the time of Akbar and afterward during the time of Jehangir and Shahjahan.

1530 - 1600 hrs: Shopping at Agra which is famous for its marble and soft stone inlay work, leather goods, brassware and carpets which involve delicate yarn overlays. Semi-precious and precious jewellery in ornate Mughal style is also available.

1600 hrs: Drive back to Delhi, reach Hotel 2000 Hrs (approx.)

  

Taj Mahal                                                                                       Agra

    For booking of the above (Local Tours or Pre Post Tours), please contact official Conference Manager congress@ingiabse.org

Practical Information

VISA

All foreign nationals intending to participate in the Congress/ meeting, except those of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives, are required to obtain an Indian VISA. VISA can be applied for in person or by post at the High commission/Embassy based in the country from where the participant intends to depart for India. VISA application form is available at the office of the Indian Embassy in the capital and other major cities of the country of your residence. All NRIs/PIOs, including children (who don’t possess OCI or PIO card) need to apply for VISA in separate VISA forms. All the participants are advised to apply for either Conference VISA or Tourist VISA. The portal fore-visa is here:  www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

Health regulation

A valid yellow-fever certificate is mandatory for all individuals (including infants) who have been even in transit in Africa or South Africa or Papua New Guinea six days prior to their arrival for the summit. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. India does not require immunisation against smallpox or cholera.

Medical Facility

During the congress, there will be medical support readily available to all attendees. A qualified doctor will be on-site throughout the event to address any health-related concerns or emergencies that may arise.

Climate/Temperature

Due to its vast size, India has a varied climate, and it is possible to travel at almost all times of year and find certain areas of the Subcontinent that are at their best. The country has a three-season year - summer, monsoon and winter. The rainy season is from June to September.

Recommended Clothing: it can be Wet, hot and humid season during the conference days, so Light Cotton clothing is advised. Umbrella is advisable.

Monsoon - Max 35°C, Min 25°C

Currency Exchange

India uses the official currency known as the Indian Rupee (INR) throughout the country. The currency symbol is '₹' and it is commonly referred to as INR or rupee. Denominations of ₹5, ₹10, ₹20,₹50, ₹100, and ₹500 are widely circulated. When traveling to India, you can conveniently obtain rupees at market exchange rates. Airports, 5-star hotels, and reputable travel companies are suitable places for currency exchange. Additionally, ATMs can be found at airports and prominent urban areas, with Indian State ATMs typically accepting Visa and MasterCard.

Electricity

In India electricity supply is at 220 V, 50 Hz. Round pins (2 or 3) can fit in the power sockets. Adapters are generally available at all hotels.

Time Zone

India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of Central European Time (CET).