Institution of Engineers India to Focus on Livable Cities at National Convention in Mumbai
Mumbai, September 10, 2026: The Institution of Engineers (India) will host its 41st National Convention of Architectural Engineers at the Nehru Centre in Worli, Mumbai, on September 12 and 13, 2026. Organized by the Architectural Engineering Division Board and the Maharashtra State Centre of IEI, the event will center on the theme “Reimagining Urban India: Pathways to Livable Cities.” Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is scheduled to attend as the chief guest.
The two-day convention brings together architects, engineers, urban planners, administrators, academics, and industry experts to address challenges facing Indian cities, including congestion, pollution, inadequate pedestrian pathways, and housing shortages. The discussions will examine methods to transition urban planning focus from baseline infrastructure development to broader quality-of-life metrics.
“India aspires to become a developed nation. But can we achieve that ambition without making our cities livable? The real question is not simply how to build the next road, bridge, Metro line or skyscraper, but how to create cities where people can live, work, move, breathe, play and grow with dignity,” said Suresh Babu, Founder and Principal of Suresh Babu and Partners, Architecture + Planning, and Organising Secretary of the National Convention of Architectural Engineers.
The convention agenda spans transit integration, urban governance, technology application, public space design, and pedestrian infrastructure. Experts will also evaluate non-motorized transport networks alongside traditional systems, taking operational insights from local networks like Mumbai’s dabbawala logistics system.
Commenting on the event’s core focus, Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman of Hiranandani Group, highlighted the necessity of integrated townships and sustainable development frameworks that treat economic activity, housing, technology, and community space as connected systems.
Additional speakers and participants scheduled for the event include Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home, Housing, School Education, Co-operation and Mining, Government of Maharashtra; Ashwini Bhide, Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation; Manish Kothari, President of IEI; and Sandip Kumar Deb, Chairman of the Architectural Engineering Division Board, IEI.
The event aims to establish a multidisciplinary framework for urban development that balances rapid technological and physical expansion with environmental sustainability, safety, and public accessibility.
