In the early fifties the gigantic projects like Bhakra Dam, Fertilizer Plants, ambitious plans of industrial development, rural uplift & electrification, expansion of the Armed Forces etc., required number of engineers far beyond the capacity of the technical institutions of the region at that stage. The idea of more technical institutions to meet the enhanced demand for engineers was thus conceived and patronised by various organisations and the institutions like Guru Nanak Engineering College sprang up, and it is to their credit that at no stage or step have the organisational or the national aspirations been let down by them.
The Civil Engineering Depeatment from its inception, had the benefit of the guidance of the great educationists/engineers S. Tara Singh, Prof. P. C. Puri & Dr. R. S. Sandhu who set up the highest tradition of rigid discipline & dedicated hard work which have scrupulously been maintained ever since. The inculcated habit of hardwork amongst the Civil Epgineering Students helped them to compete well with their counterparts from other institutions of this region though they were of rural background & had disadvantage of initial merit.
The achivements of the Civil Enginering students can be a source of real satisfaction and pride for the institution hardly out of its teething troubles. To mention a few Sh. Kanwarjit Singh I.R.S.E. stood first in the all India Engineering Services Examination conducted by U.P.S.C. and is highly esteemed in his department for his technical knowledge. In the Armed Forces Sh. S. K. Aggarwal & Sh. Sidhu have risen to the rank of Lt. Col. in a short span of sixteen years & have earned a name for their Alma Mater. In P.W.D. Sh. Tirlochan Singh, Sh. A. S. Dhami, Sh. Surjit Singh Bola and Sh. S. S. Sanga are holding posts of Superintending Engineers. Sh. S. S. Saini holds a coveted position in Earth Quake Engineering in Roorkee University. Sh. Jaspal Singh, Sh. R. K. Garg Managing Directors of Construction Concern Delhi & Steel strips, Chandigarh respectively have made their mark in the field. Sh. I. S. Rai, Sh. R. K. Saran, Sh. H. S. Chadha, Sh. Jasbir Singh Arora & many other old students of this Institution have earned glory in U.S.A. In addition, a large no. of excellent Civil Engineers trained by the department who hold senior positions in Army, Central and State Govt. Departments and Private concerns, have substantially contributed towards the development of country & building up of national economy.
Through consistent & phased planning the various Laboratories- Structures, Material Testing, Road Materials, Soil Mechanics, Geology & Surveying have been well equipped. Assistance by the State & Centrat Govt. under different plans & schemes have been utilised to the best advantage to achieve this end. They meet the requirements of degree & diploma students for conducting the pracrlcals according to the latest syllabii and at the same time provide facilities to the various P.W.D. Departments & other private firms for the testing of materials- Concrete, Steel, Soils etc. & for the repairs of their sophisticated instruments- Levels, Theodolities etc.
The consultancy service provided to the various Govt. Departments & Semi-Govt. and private agencies has won acclaim for the Civil Engineering Department.
Q.l.P for technical teachers has proved a boon to the department under the incentive of leave under liberal terms, staff members have been able to improve their qualifications. Under this scheme Prof. T. S. Rekhi, Prof. Sewa Singh, and Prof. Hardeep Singh Rai have earned their Ph.D. degrees from Indian Institutes of Technologies. Prof. D. S. Sahota had a teaching assignment in Tenzania where his work & conduct were rated very good. Technical bodies like Institution of Engineers draw a substantial membership from our staff.
With the co-operation of the staff & students, Civil Engineering Department has made achievements for which institution & the Management can, indeed, feel proud, but there is lot to be done in the future. http://www.webindia123.com/career/options/eng/civil/intro.htm