Young innovators should use tech skills to improve road safety: RTO

The grand opening ceremony of XPECTO’25, the three-day annual tech fest at IIT Mandi, was inaugurated on Saturday with great enthusiasm and inspiration. The event, taking place from March 29 to 31, 2025, witnessed a spectacular start, with Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Girish Sumra gracing the occasion as the chief guest. Presented by Innovation Labs by Fetch.ai and co-powered by Boston Scientific, Masai, and HPDT, XPECTO’25 has drawn a large number of participants from IIT Mandi and colleges across the country.

The ceremony commenced with the traditional Saraswati Vandana and lamp lighting, symbolising the start of the grand celebrations. The lamp was lit by the chief guest, alongside Dean of Students Dr Tushar Jain and Chair SAP Dr Gopisreekanth Reddy, in the presence of an eager and energetic audience.

Addressing the gathering, RTO Sumra delivered an insightful speech, focusing on the critical issue of road safety, particularly in Himachal Pradesh’s challenging terrains. He urged young innovators to use their technological skills to develop solutions that could raise awareness and improve road safety. His words resonated deeply with the students, inspiring them to create impactful solutions for modern challenges.

Following Sumra’s address, Dean of Students Dr Tushar Jain welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of active engagement in competitions. He encouraged students to use XPECTO’25 as a platform to explore their creativity, generate new ideas, and translate them into tangible innovations that could shape the future of technology.

Chair SAP Dr Gopisreekanth Reddy reflected on the remarkable journey of XPECTO, sharing his experiences in establishing it as IIT Mandi’s premier technical festival. He urged participants to embrace a spirit of competitiveness, innovation, and excellence, aligning with XPECTO’s vision of fostering technological brilliance and preparing students for international competitions.

Adding to the excitement, Technical Secretary Vaibhav Kesharwani and Mentor Unnat Maheshwari provided an overview of the highly anticipated competitions and workshops scheduled for XPECTO’25. They highlighted the fest’s 200 per cent surge in participation, with flagship events like FrostHack, Robowars, and AstraX set to captivate attendees and reinforce IIT Mandi’s commitment to cutting-edge technology and innovation.

The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks to the attendees, sponsors, organising teams, and volunteers for their dedication in making XPECTO’25 a reality. Participants were encouraged to seize the next 72 hours to push technological boundaries and contribute to the ongoing legacy of innovation at IIT Mandi.

With students and innovators from across the country converging at IIT Mandi, XPECTO’25 promises to be a landmark event, showcasing exceptional talent and driving forward the spirit of technological advancement and creativity.