Having successfully completed several projects for DEWA including the 132/11 kV Manzil & Jebel Ali substations, YALAYIS, GHRUTH, UMMDAMAN, CEMENT, QANAT, NADHESSA, & ESKNYLYS substations and the 132/33 kV SS DEWA/ RTA Metro & D stations, Sasikumar Palani can consider himself an expert. Apart from being a part of the award-winning NADHESSA project, he is presently involved in taking over the 400/132 kV SHRUOOQ substation.
“Time management and clear communication with stakeholders, especially the clients, are key to timely delivery,” he notes seriously, “apart from regularly monitoring, attending and rectifying problems to help move the project forward, always prioritizing and working on tasks on the critical path and project milestones.” At the NADHEESA project, his main challenge was the newly introduced DOSS concept to optimize the designs of substations; the other being to integrate the existing generation power station to the new 132/33 kV DEWA transmission networks and commission them, phase wise, in ‘live’ condition without interrupting power generation or the transmission networks.
“Our on-time submission of the design documents and quick approvals from the client enabled us to fast-track execution, while the FATs helped us enormously to maintain schedules,” he says, adding that successfully addressing all site criticisms and carrying out the related modifications on a priority basis in accordance with the client’s needs, were other reasons for their excellent delivery. As a part of their SOP, Sasikumar and team diligently reviewed all detailed design calculations, working drawings for all SCADA/ telecom works and conducted technical meetings with the client and vendors to procure the necessary approvals. Nonconformities in installation works, defects, missing components in electrical equipment were promptly identified and addressed using pre‐ commissioning checklists. “We ensured that all significant benchmarks were met in accordance with the intended timelines,” he affirms with a thumbs up.
Sasikumar is thankful to his seniors and team members for their valuable inputs based on their experience. “The feedback from some of my seniors helped me to make the necessary changes in my work and overcome my flaws,” he remarks with feeling, “and I was always given the required manpower to keep the project moving forward.”
A native of Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, Sasikumar is married to Kavitha, a homemaker, and they are blessed with two children, Poorvi and Rushal. His favourite pastimes include football, cricket and reading technical journals. “As part of my project work, I have had the opportunity to travel to a few other countries, and have new experiences,” he says. “Of course, my childhood is full of unforgettable moments,” he laughs with delight.
FOCUSED ON TIMELY DELIVERY
Arun Murugan
Assistant Construction Manager (Elec), PT&D IC
“The most crucial aspects of timely project delivery are proactive planning and risk mitigation,” states Arun Murugan, speaking from his 10+ years of experience in L&T & UAE, having played key roles ranging from project coordination, site management, and stakeholder communication. “Anticipating challenges, maintaining flexibility in execution, and leveraging technology-driven solutions ensure that the project progresses efficiently. In addition, what is required is a strong focus on team collaboration, stakeholder alignment, and adaptive execution strategies for successful project completion.”
Although Arun has been associated with multiple power infrastructure projects in various network substations, some of them for DEWA too, what gave him immense satisfaction is his role as Site Manager at the NADHESSA 132/11 kV Substation project in Dubai that he and team delivered 5 months ahead of base schedule that won them L&T Construction’s Timely Delivery Award 2024.
Elaborating on his role, Arun mentions that securing the delivery of all major equipment in line with the room access dates was one of his major responsibilities. “Additionally, I was responsible for securing the availability of the respective OEM engineers as per the project schedule and ensuring the readiness of the SCMS System and the feeder cable.” He adds that key activities were identified, scheduled and focussed on to achieve milestones at an early stage with the same resources to maximize productivity with minimum manpower.
The project was not without its share of challenges for the team as last-minute technical & design modifications threatened to impact execution timelines for which they resorted to real time design approvals through cloud-based platforms to reduce rework. “To address issues in material procurement and supply chain disruptions like delays in receiving key equipment such as switchgear due to production issues, we closely tracked shipments,” he shares. “By synchronizing work between the civil, electrical, and commissioning teams, we avoided rework and kept the project on track.” Unfavourable weather conditions like heavy rains & extreme temperatures were other challenges that prompted the team to implement two work shifts to make up for lost time.
“Our success is one of collective effort,” highlights Arun, “with my seniors providing strategic guidance, helping in decision-making and approvals, while my team members ensured operational efficiency on site.” He attributes success to open channels of communication, collaboration & mentorship too.
A native of Cumbum in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, Arun’s better half is Maripriya, who supports him as a homemaker, and they are blessed with two daughters, Jeeva Dheera & Yaswi Dheera. Listening to music relaxes him.
A strong believer in the merits of proactive planning to drive productivity and maintain consistent project timelines, Sheik Mohammad Ismail’s vital contribution has helped his 132/11 kV NADHESSA substation project win L&T Construction’s Timely Delivery Award – 2024. “One of the things I focus on is manpower management and start planning a week before starting any activity which ensures better resource allocation and task scheduling,” he explains. “By proactively planning workforce distribution and aligning material availability with project requirements, we significantly improved productivity and maintained project timelines with greater consistency.” His face reflects his success.
“I have learnt something new from every project that has helped me refine my electrical engineering and site management skills,” he says, referring to his stints at the 132/11kV TRBLUSST SS Substation 132/11 kV DS217 SS & 132/11 kV NADHESSA Substation projects, where his primary responsibilities included electrical installations, subcontractor management, ordering & tracking of material and collaboration with multiple stakeholders. Presently, at the 132/11 kV SHISUIB SS project, Ismail oversees electrical installations, site operations, ensuring compliance with safety standards and specifications.
Recognizing that delays in material deliveries were a major challenge to meeting project timelines, Ismail working closely with the procurement team streamlined material tracking and procurement by establishing a system to track material real time. Simultaneously managing multiple activities to ensure smooth coordination between the different teams was another of his key challenges. “With civil, mechanical, and electrical tasks often running in parallel, any misalignment could lead to delays or rework,” warns Ismail. “By strategically managing parallel work, we successfully reduced downtime, improved efficiency, and accelerated project progress while maintaining high-quality standards,” he says proudly, acknowledging the role of his seniors and team members in creating a collaborative environment for all to showcase their expertise and ensure seamless integration.
“My family – my wife, Shakira Akther, and son, Mohammed Yahya, have been my pillars of support, encouraging me to push forward in my career, always motivating me to aim higher,” he says with feeling. Shakira, a former teacher, is now a homemaker, and his son’s birth is his life’s most memorable moment. Hailing from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Ismail pursues his love for outdoor activities whenever time permits.
Proud to be part of an organization that is committed to excellence in engineering, project execution with a culture of learning and growth, Ismail considers himself lucky to work in L&T and with a team that has shaped his personal & professional lives.
START TO FINISH,
DELIVERED 5 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Hritik Ramesh Birwadkar
Senior Engineer (Civil), PT&D IC
Young Hritik Birwadkar’s entry into the world of construction was a tough one, as a fresher having to directly work on DEWA projects. “To start with, it was very difficult to keep up with the pace required to complete the project in time,” he says tightly, “but as time passed, I increased my speed of working with a better understanding of the project requirements to get the job done.” He is therefore extremely proud that the NADHESSA 132/11 kV Substation project in Dubai, his first, was delivered by the team a full 5 months ahead of schedule that also won them L&T Construction’s Timely Delivery Award 2024.
What helped Hritik in his effort to deliver on time was the opportunity to coordinate in advance with the design teams and other disciplines. “With detailed monitoring of the day-to-day activities vis-à-vis our schedule, we were able to execute our work in time,” he explains. “In addition, project progress and micro level activities planned and executed at site level were updated daily with the help of digital tools to track progress. It also alerted us of activities that were getting delayed to think of mitigation steps to overcome the challenges and keep our project on schedule,” he says with determination.
He did not lack support and cooperation at site in their collective objective of delivering the project ahead of time. “My Project Manager and Construction Manager were fully supportive, giving me opportunities to work in different departments,” he remarks with gratitude. “It was also great that I was a part of the project from the start that helped me to get the client approvals for working on DEWA projects.”
When asked about his life’s most wonderful moment, his response is instantaneous. “It is the day I got the DEWA approval and the day when we energized the NADHESSA substation which was a record of completing it 5 months ahead of the baseline,” he says, his chest swelling with pride.
Having delivered handsomely, Hritik has since moved to the 400/132 kV Shurooq substation in Dubai’s Al Qudra region, his second project with L&T, a company he respects because of its attitude towards work and care for its employees.
A Mumbaikar, Hritik loves to play the guitar and travel to different places when free. Hopefully, he will soon woo a life partner with his music.