He has a simple and straightforward approach to addressing his challenges of tight timelines, material shortages, coordination issues, and unexpected ground conditions. “It is all about daily planning, advance material booking, backup resources, and quick on-site issue resolution,” smiles Vijay K. Speaking from his experience with L&T Geo Structure since January 2021 that straddles two projects, the Katni Grade Separator Railway Project in Madhya Pradesh, and the CG Semi Piling Project in Sanand, his present assignment, he says wisely, “Never allow issues to become problems is because resolving bottlenecks immediately is the best way to avoid delays and making problems visible early keeps us on track.”
Completing 3,200 piles under a busy railway line at the Katni Separator project was a huge triumph for Vijay where he along with the team executed piling, substructure, superstructure, retaining walls, and embankment works, finishing on schedule in extremely challenging conditions. Buoyed by that achievement, he has pitched his effort to his present task at the Sanand project where the team is targeting to complete 10,000 piles in three months. “We have already completed 9,000 piles earning our client’s appreciation for our progress,” he shares delightedly, adding, “Every pile drives development!”
On the matter of tech adoption, Vijay mentions the use of the Material NxT App at the Katni project for real-time material indents, orders, and reports. “Apart from ensuring timely availability of material that reduced delays, the app boosted our efficiency by putting key data at our fingertips for faster decisions,” he shares enthusiastically, envisioning a real-time dashboard integrating progress, deliveries, safety, and weather for instant decisions.
At site, Vijay acknowledges that his seniors offer clear priorities and swift decisions, while his team members coordinate and are ever willing to share workloads. “Their support scales our speed,” he says warmly. He feels that scope clarity and decisive communication are essential to successfully deliver large projects.
Hailing from Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, Vijay is married to Anisha a homemaker, and the love of their lives is their daughter, Neha. He plays cricket in project tournaments. “Those games recharge us,” he smiles, always finding time to unwind and bond with his colleagues.
L&T’s commitment to quality and excellence inspires him. “Being part of nation-building projects and being associated with such a legacy motivates me to maintain high standards in my own work every day,” he beams.
IMPRESSED THAT HIS ORGANIZATION TRUSTS HIS CAPABILITIES
A GET of the 2019 batch and a BIS scholar, young Aditya Gaikwad has made rapid strides in his career with L&T. He first joined the Chennai Metro Rail project in the cut-and-cover section and had the opportunity to train under the guidance of C. Siddharthan and P.K. Shetty. “I was rotated through various departments including Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Planning, gaining well rounded exposure to project execution before being absorbed into the Planning department as Senior Engineer, where I played a key role in the successful commissioning of the Chennai Metro Phase 1 extension,” he shares meaningfully. Following the BIS programme and getting a Master’s in Construction Management from IIT Madras, he was posted at the Katni Grade Separator project in 2023 as part of the Planning team, working under the mentorship of Arghajit Roy and Amit Mishra.
Since February 2025, as Planning In-charge for the CG Semi Piling Works project, Aditya was responsible to deliver 9,000+ piles within four months, with an asking rate of 100+ piles per day that demanded swift mobilization and efficient coordination. “We speedily mobilized over 20 piling rigs, including the CFA equipment,” he informs, “and I worked closely with the execution, logistics, and vendor teams to streamline operations, optimize resource utilization, and maintain a steady workflow across multiple fronts to keep the project on track with our milestones.”
The leadership of Project Manager, K.V. Vinod has beena key factor for under him, the team operates with a clear focus on planning precision, proactive execution, and accountability, creating an environment where targets are not just met but often exceeded “Thanks to this strong leadership and collaborative team spirit, working with speed and scale, we successfully delivered over 9,150 piles in record time and are currently in the handover phase of the project,” he shares with a definite sense of achievement.
What impresses him most about L&T is the unwavering trust the company places in its young engineers. “From an early stage in my career, I was given challenging responsibilities with the freedom, mentorship and support to perform,” he says. “This culture of empowerment, combined with L&T’s commitment to engineering excellence, makes it truly inspiring to be part of an organization that builds the nation at scale.”
A native of Nagpur, Maharashtra, and still single, Aditya, very early his short career, has learnt that meticulous planning and strong execution discipline are critical to deliver large projects where every activity is aligned aligned with a clear c timeline, resources mobilized proactively, and potential bottlenecks anticipated. “With a shared sense of urgency and accountability, even the most challenging targets become achievable like what we did, with the CFA technology,” he signs off triumphantly.
Having gained experience at the Iron Ore & Coal Berth Project at JSW, Paradip, and the Katni Grade Separator Project, Mustak Hossain is at his third GeoStructure project, the CG Semi, Sanand. “Through consistent effort and a structured work approach, I focus on driving daily progress at the site,” he begins enthusiastically. “By implementing practical digital tools, streamlining communication, and improving real-time documentation, we are able to make faster decisions and execute activities more smoothly.”
“Good planning with sufficient skilled manpower, the right machinery, and proper resources are crucial for ensuring speedy progress in large-scale projects,” Mustak remarks smartly. Initially, the team had to tackle problems such as lack of proper planning, labour shortage, and lagged communication. “Nature posed its own challenges,” he adds, “like heavy rainfall, extreme hottand cold weather in different areas, and so on.” Mustak and team solved these by strategically rescheduling activities, procuring sufficient labour, and streamlining communication. “We installed a proper drainage system and laid roads. After rains, we immediately dewater and clean the slush.”
With his experience in piling, Mustak explains the use of Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) rig machinery, a modern technology used at the site for piling. “CFA piles are economic and can be cast in the most severe conditions such as sand, clay, silt, and soft rocks, and it is faster than traditional piling, as temporary casing or bentonite in unstable soil and temporary support system in water-bearing soils are not required.”
Mustak is grateful to both his seniors and team members for their respective roles in enhancing speed at the site. “Thanks to their support in timely provision of equipment, manpower, and other necessary resources, we can meet targets efficiently,” he notes with a smile. “Additionally, they actively assist in resolving technical queries and provide valuable guidance to overcome on-site challenges and maintain smooth execution.”
A native of Puratan Chowk in Purbba Barddhaman district, West Bengal, Mustak is married to Jyotsna Khatun, a homemaker. They are blessed with two boys, Nausad and Miraj. When he isn’t too busy performing piling works at his sites, Mustak likes to unwind by reading books. “L&T is a truly enriching place to work at, with a positive and engaging environment,” he says proudly, signing off.
“I am proud to be part of a company that not only drives innovation but also plays a pivotal role in the country’s growth,” says Soumalya Dolui, a young and dynamic engineer with L&T GeoStructure. A Diploma Engineer Trainee, he began his journey with L&T in September 2023, and after stints at the Piling and GI works project for Numaligarh Refinery Limited in Assam as a Planning & Billing Engineer, and the Katni Grade Separator project, Soumalya finally believes that that he is making his mark in the world of engineering & construction at his 3rd project. “Here, at the CG Semi Zenith Plant project in Sanand, Gujarat, I have got the chance to lead the QA/QC department,” he shares excitedly.
Certainly, his has been a steep learning curve and is enjoying the pressures and the triumphs of life at site. To begin with, his tasks included preparing & sharing DPRS, handling client & sub-contractor billing, interacting with clients, reconciling bulk material & preparing and getting HPCs approved. At his 2nd assignment, Soumalya’s areas of responsibility increased to include inspecting piling activities, reinforcements, concreting, RCC structures, structures maintaining inspection records & RFIs, supervising concrete production from three CP-30 batching plants & material testing.
“At the CG Semi Zenith, I prepare method statements, quality assurance plans, inspect piling activities, fresh incoming material, supervise concrete production, and maintain equipment calibration at the site laboratory,” he reels off. In addition, he also conducts integrity tests, ensures compliance with the quality plans of the project & IS Codes and drives quality initiatives like toolbox training & monthly reports, ensuring that all client observations are promptly addressed.
“Implementing the Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) method for BCIS piles has been a game-changer, which has significantly accelerated piling progress,” Soumalya shares happily. Faced with the challenge of completing 9,000+ piles in a tight time frame, the team deployed multiple piling contractors and CFA rigs, always monitoring safety and quality. “Good planning, skilled manpower, and advanced technology are key to delivering projects on time,” he says, with conviction.
Grateful for their unwavering support, he says, “From my first day, my seniors and team members have always guided me through complex construction processes, helping me to grow as a professional.”
Hailing from Howrah, West Bengal, Soumalya is still single and unwinds by listening to music. “Whether it’s infrastructure or innovation, we are shaping India’s future,” he rounds off in style.
