Pune: Kalika Steel, one of Maharashtra’s leading TMT bar manufacturers and a pioneer in sustainable practices, successfully concluded the third edition of its flagship initiative, KREATE 2025, on Vishwakarma Day in Jalna.
This year’s theme – “Celebrating Sustainability: A Tribute to the Changemakers” – challenged students of architecture, civil, and structural engineering to transform steel into inspiring symbols of resilience and purpose.
Among the top three winning teams from across Maharashtra, students from College of Engineering Pune (COEP) made the city proud by securing one of the coveted prizes worth ₹1,00,000. Their trophy design was applauded for its innovative concept and strong sustainability focus.
Joining COEP in the winners’ circle were teams from P. R. Pote Patil College of Engineering, Amravati and Thakur College of Architecture, Mumbai, who also impressed the jury with their unique interpretations of the theme.
Along with this, this year, Kalika Stel also awarded 3 consolidation prizes of a cash prize of ₹10,000 to N.D.M.V.P. Sharadchandra Pawarji College of Architecture, Nashik, Kolhapur Institute of Technology (KIT’s), Kolhapur, and Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture, Pune. Each of the winning entries stood out for its creative interpretation of the theme and its ability to honour changemakers through thoughtful design.
This year’s edition carried the theme “Celebrating Sustainability – A Tribute to the Changemakers,” challenging students to design trophies inspired by real-life figures driving environmental and social impact in India. Participants drew inspiration from Shikha Shah, Founder & CEO of Scrapshala, who promotes sustainable lifestyles through upcycling; Puran Singh Rajput, Co-founder & COO of EF Polymer, who transforms fruit waste into biodegradable soil enhancers for farmers; and Gauri Mirashi, Co-founder, EcoSattva Environmental Solutions, who has pioneered inclusive river and ecosystem restoration projects. Each design incorporated TMT steel bars, symbolising resilience and transformation.
Speaking at the finale, Govind Goyal, Director of Kalika Steel, said, “With KREATE 2025, we wanted to give young minds a platform to channel their creativity towards a cause that truly matters – sustainability. The remarkable ideas and designs presented this year reaffirm our belief that the next generation of engineers and architects can become powerful changemakers. At Kalika Steel, we are equally proud that the competition provided students with a rare opportunity to not only learn about steel in theory, but also to hold it, feel its strength, and experience its transformative potential as a design material. This hands-on exposure, combined with their vision for sustainability, is what makes initiatives like KREATE so meaningful in shaping a resilient tomorrow.”
KREATE 2025 witnessed strong participation from across Maharashtra, with 1000+ teams of students from 26+ districts of Maharashtra submitting entries. Following the initial screening process, 50 teams entered the finals and presented their prototypes at the grand finale held at Gokul Lawns, Galaxy Hotel, Jalna. Their work was evaluated by an esteemed jury comprising Ar. Yatin Pandya, Principle Architect, Footprints E.A.R.T.H and Sanjay Jamkar, Structural Engineer, Archi Dtales.
The jury praised the students for their ingenuity and depth of thought, highlighting how the competition bridged academia, sustainability, and real-world design challenges. Ar. Yatin Pandya, Principle Architect, Footprints E.A.R.T.H, said, “I am deeply impressed by the concept of KREATE 2025, as it goes beyond a conventional design competition and gives students a chance to apply their technical learning to real-world challenges. What stood out was how the initiative encouraged them to engage with steel as a material, something they often study in books but rarely get to work with hands-on. In evaluating the entries, we looked closely at creativity, originality, relevance to the theme of sustainability, and the ability of the designs to meaningfully honour changemakers. The depth of thought and innovation we witnessed gives us great confidence in the future of India’s young architects and engineers.”
Reflecting on the experience, Sanjay Jamkar, Structural Engineer, Archi Dtales said, “I visited all 50 finalist teams and closely examined the engineering aspects of their trophy designs. The level of innovation, structural understanding, and creative application of steel that these students demonstrated left me thoroughly impressed. What stood out was not just their ability to design but also their capacity to translate sustainability and resilience into tangible forms. Competitions like KREATE 2025 truly bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, and what I see here today perfectly defines the spirit and meaning of this initiative.”
Launched in 2024, KREATE was envisioned as a platform to empower the next generation of engineers and architects to think beyond classrooms and design with purpose. The debut edition attracted over 600 students from 70 colleges across 21 districts, while KREATE 2025 scaled the initiative further, reinforcing Kalika Steel’s belief that design and sustainability can go hand in hand in shaping India’s future.
