The Department of Civil Engineering at Dhanekula Institute of Engineering & Technology, Ganguru, organised an industrial interaction programme under the Adani FutureX Programme on Thursday. The programme focused on strengthening engagement between the institute and the cement industry while giving students greater exposure to professional practices.

Yedukondalu, technical head for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at Adani Cement, delivered a technical lecture on concrete as a man-made material. The session covered the importance of concrete in construction, its properties and applications, and its significance in modern infrastructure development.

The lecture also addressed the role of quality cement and suitable concrete technology in supporting durable and sustainable construction. The discussion connected classroom learning with the technical considerations involved in infrastructure projects and construction practices.

A key part of the programme was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Department of Civil Engineering and Adani Cement under the Adani FutureX Partnership Agreement. The agreement is intended to strengthen industry-academia collaboration through opportunities for student internships and industrial visits.

The initiative is expected to provide students with practical exposure, improve their understanding of industrial practices and help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications. Dhanekula Institute Chairman Dhanekula Ravindranath Tagore, Secretary Dhanekula Venkata Bhavani Prasad and Director DKRK Ravi Prasad supported the initiative, with the institute leadership highlighting the importance of industry-institution interaction in enhancing students’ technical employability.

JK Lakshmi Cement has laid the foundation stone for Project Kamakshi, its first integrated cement manufacturing facility in Assam, marking the company’s entry into Northeast India. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at Umrangso village in Dima Hasao district in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The project involves an investment of Rs. 110 bn, including the mining lease. It will have annual cement production capacity of 2.5 mn t and a 1 mn t clinkerisation unit, with completion scheduled for FY2029.

The facility is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs and will primarily serve the growing Northeast market. It will also include dedicated railway sidings for transporting raw materials and finished cement, supporting supply chain reliability and regional distribution.

Chairperson and Managing Director Vinita Singhania said the project represented the beginning of a long-term relationship with Assam and the wider Northeast. She said the plant would help provide locally produced cement, employment and dependable supplies as the region’s infrastructure development accelerated, while enabling the company to grow alongside the communities it serves.

The investment supports JK Lakshmi Cement’s strategy of expanding into high-growth markets beyond its established presence in Northern, Western and Eastern India. The company expects the project to contribute to regional economic development and infrastructure growth while pursuing its long-term objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047.

Ambuja Cements will invest Rs. 145 bn to expand its cement capacity to 155 mn tonnes per annum by fiscal 2030. The planned investment, equivalent to $1.53 bn, will increase production capacity from the company’s current level of 113.5 MTPA.

The company expects capacity to reach 119 MTPA by March 2027, with the wider expansion programme adding facilities across several major cement markets. The investment is intended to support the company’s long-term growth and strengthen its manufacturing network in India.

The new capacity will be developed across Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The projects will expand Ambuja Cements’ manufacturing footprint across the eastern, western and northern regions, where demand for cement is supported by infrastructure and housing activity.

Indian cement producers have expanded capacity in recent years as infrastructure development and housing construction have increased. Companies have been investing in new plants and grinding units to improve their presence across regional markets and serve rising demand.

Ambuja Cements announced the investment shortly after reporting a 34.7 per cent decline in quarterly net profit. The fall was attributed to higher fuel and freight costs, which affected the company’s performance during the quarter.

The capacity expansion forms part of Ambuja Cements’ broader effort to increase its production base while improving its reach across key markets. Once completed, the programme will give the company a substantially larger operating footprint and position it to participate in anticipated growth in India’s cement sector.