President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday asked military engineers to make use of cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence in their future projects, saying this would help in more efficient design and reduced time frame for construction.

She was talking to officer trainees of the Military Engineer Services (MES) when they called on her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President told the young officers that they have joined the services at a time when India has just entered into the ”Amrit Kaal” and also assumed G20 Presidency. ”It is the time when the world is looking towards India for new innovations and solutions,” she added.

President Murmu noted that as officers of MES, they would be instrumental in providing rear-line engineering support to all the defence arms, that is, Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and other organisations. The dedicated engineering support that they provide to the armed forces enhanced their overall performance and kept them prepared to meet any exigencies.

The President said that as young officers in the field of construction, MES officers have a prime duty to care for the environment also. ”We must move towards increased use of renewable energy for sustainable development,” she added.

She noted that the MES was greatly contributing to reducing the national carbon footprint by completing a large number of Solar Photovoltaic projects. She said they could innovate and use new building materials that protect residents from hazardous chemicals. The overall human well-being increased when surrounded by natural materials, she added.

The President said the construction sector was very dynamic and the technologies were changing very fast. This sector played a major role in economic growth and development. She said that MES officers could contribute immensely to developing infrastructure using modern tools of project management.

She was happy to note that MES has completed the first-ever 3D Printed Houses at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. She urged MES officers to try to use more such technologies that are cost-effective and help in avoiding wastage. She also urged to promote the recycling of materials wherever possible.