SMVDU VC flags off students for SAE BAJA 2025 competition

Jammu, Feb 19: The Vice Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Prof. Pragati Kumar, flagged off a team of 21 engineering students from the School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Electrical Engineering as they set out to represent the university at the prestigious SAE BAJA 2025 competition in Hyderabad. Scheduled from February 20 to February 25, the event will see participation from top universities across India, challenging teams to showcase their innovation and engineering prowess in motorsport design.
The SMVDU team, “Crawlers,” has successfully designed and fabricated an electric all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on campus, demonstrating their technical expertise, creativity, and hands-on skills. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Prof. Pragati Kumar commended the students for their dedication and hard work, highlighting the significance of such competitions in enhancing practical learning and industry readiness.
“This is a proud moment for SMVDU. The team has put in immense effort, and I have full confidence in their ability to excel at SAE BAJA 2025. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to showcase their talent on a national platform and gain valuable industry insights,” said Prof. Kumar.
The faculty coordinators, Dr. Ankush Raina and Dr. Mir Irfan Ul Haq, informed that SMVDU is the only team from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir participating in the event. The ATV fabrication was assisted by Chandan Sharma and Kewal from the Central Workshop at SMVDU.
The event was attended by prominent faculty members, including Prof. K.R. Jha (Dean, Faculty of Engineering), Prof. Balbir Singh (Dean, Academic Affairs), Prof. R.K. Mishra (Dean, Students Welfare), Dr. Yatheshth Anand (Head, SME), and Er. Deepak Byotra (Workshop Superintendent). They lauded the students’ efforts and extended their best wishes for the competition.
The team, led by captains Mr. Divyansh Kale and Mr. Amod Kumar, expressed their gratitude to the university administration and event sponsors for their unwavering support. The project was sponsored by Frameinn (a startup founded by SMVDU alumnus Mr. Dhananjay Singh), T.V. Super Filter Industries, Jammu, and Nature Fab (a startup founded by SMVDU alumnus Piyush Singla).
SAE BAJA is one of the most prestigious motorsport events for engineering students, where teams design, build, and test off-road vehicles that can withstand challenging terrains and rigorous endurance tests. The SMVDU team’s electric ATV, the result of months of research and innovation, is set to compete in various technical and endurance challenges at the competition. With high hopes and strong support, Team Crawlers is ready to make its mark at SAE BAJA 2025, bringing pride to SMVDU and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.