Team CRAWLERS from SMVDU shines at SAE BAJA 2025 with Innovative Electric All-Terrain Vehicle, representing J&K with pride

KATRA: Team CRAWLERS from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) earns accolades for their innovative electric all-terrain vehicle (E-BAJA) at the prestigious SAE BAJA 2025 competition in Hyderabad as the only team to represent UT of J&K

A team of 21 dedicated students from SMVDU’s School of Mechanical Engineering (SME) and School of Electrical Engineering (SEE), known as Team CRAWLERS, has earned widespread recognition for successfully designing, fabricating, and completing an Electric All-Terrain Vehicle (E-BAJA) to compete in the highly competitive SAE BAJA 2025. Their effort marks a remarkable achievement for both the team and the university, demonstrating exceptional engineering skills, perseverance, and innovation. The team participated in the SAE BAJA 2025 event, a national-level racing competition hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers, India (SAE India), in Hyderabad.

In addition to the team, Ms. Deepika Malik (Assistant Professor, Economics) and Mr. Chandan Sharma (Central Workshop) joined the team as mentors and advisors. The event was coordinated by Dr. Mir Irfan Ul Haq (Associate Professor) and Dr. Ankush Raina (Assistant Professor), from the School of Mechanical Engineering mentored and coordinated the event as part of SAE Collegiate Club of SMVDU.In a statement, the team expressed immense gratitude for the unwavering support of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Pragati Kumar, whose encouragement and strategic guidance played a pivotal role in their success.

“The Vice Chancellor’s support, coupled with the expertise of our faculty mentors, motivated us to push forward despite the challenges, making the successful completion of our E-BAJA vehicle possible,” the team shared.At the event in Hyderabad, Mr. S. Hariharan, Alumni Committee Head, and Dr. K. C. Vora, Advisor for BAJA SAEINDIA OC, attended and acknowledged the team’s tremendous effort, offering valuable insights and praise for their achievements.Upon the team’s return, a review meeting was held at SMVDU, where Prof. (Dr.) Pragati Kumar expressed his admiration for their dedication and hard work.

“The creation of this Electric Terrain Vehicle (ETV) is an industrial-grade project that required not only technical expertise but also significant teamwork and perseverance. The hands-on experience gained from this project will give these students a distinct advantage in the competitive automotive and engineering industries,” said Prof. Kumar. He also emphasized that the team should continue refining their designs, aiming for even greater success in SAE BAJA 2026. Prof. K.R Jha (Dean FoE), Dr. Yatheshth Anand, Head of SME, also commended the team’s achievement, acknowledging their contribution to raising the profile of SMVDU in the SAE BAJA community. Faculty and students from various departments gathered to extend their best wishes as Team CRAWLERS prepared for future endeavors.

The team’s leadership, represented by captains Mr. Divyansh Kale and Mr. Amod Kumar, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the faculty mentors, university administration and event sponsors. The competition was proudly sponsored by Frameinn, a start-up founded by SMVDU alumnus Mr. Dhananjay Singh, Mr. Taranveer Singh of T.V. Super Filter Industries, Jammu, and Nature Fab, another start-up led by alumnus Mr. Piyush Singla. Additional support for the team came from Neeraj Gupta (JKAS), Finance Officer, SMVDU, Ajay Kumar Sharma (JKAS), Registrar, SMVDU, and Er. Deepak Byotra, Workshop Superintendent.As the team reflects on the success of SAE BAJA 2025, faculty coordinators are optimistic about the future. "With the successful completion of this year’s competition, Team CRAWLERS is already setting their sights on refining their design and improving their performance for SAE BAJA 2026.

The team’s resilience, teamwork, and technical expertise will undoubtedly lead them to even greater accomplishments in the world of automotive engineering,” the coordinators shared.This success underlines SMVDU’s commitment to fostering innovation, research, and excellence in technical education, providing students with hands-on experiences that are critical for their future careers. As Team CRAWLERS prepares for future challenges, their journey exemplifies the university’s dedication to shaping the engineers of tomorrow.