Devika Rajesh is in seventh heaven, having just tied the knot with Jayakrishnan, who works as a structural engineer. “I am a newly married bride,” she exclaims, all ready to start dancing to a new tune that married life will start playing for her, for which she is well equipped. “Dancing is my passion,” she beams. “Iam currently learning Kathak, which helps me manage stress and gives me a huge feeling of self-​satisfaction of successfully balancing the work and passion of my choice.”

Starting at the Coke Oven Battery project, Kalinganagar, Devika was transferred 8 months later to her present assignment at AMNS’s Blast Furnace #2 project. Although site life has been challenging, she is holding her own thanks to the guidance and wonderful management of R. Suresh Kumar (VP & TFL — AMNS), Krishna Nirmalya Sen (Head — EHS, M&M IC), and A. Dhanasekar (Project Director, Blast Furnace Projects). “They have never doubted my capabilities to perform in an otherwise male-​dominated field,” she says earnestly. “My journey from a PGET in 2022 to Assistant Manager now has been closely monitored and moulded by my EHS In-​charge, Mr. Satish Chandra Yadav, who has stood beside me as a pillar of strength, radiating positivity whenever l have felt like giving up. It is his confidence that has boosted me to attain speed and scale up my career,” she says gratefully.

Despite this support, Devika has had her share of challenges at site, especially with workforce management due to language barriers and gender discrimination since the workers were at first unfamiliar with female presence at site. “With consistent interaction and constant assurance, I have more friends among the workforce who are more ready to help me than the staff themselves,” her broad smile says it all.

She flags off their VR training as immensely useful, giving the workforce a real-​time experience of various sites activities along with the hazards and risks involved. “I have realized that good planning and strict compliance to the SOPs, along with close monitoring and timely review of each activity, are crucial to precisely complete projects speedily and safely,” she remarks. “Technology can certainly enhance good material management, especially for PPE supply and other safety items, which will dramatically improve the quality of work.”

She is at her first assignment with L&T at the challenging AMNS project having joined as a GET but Erothu Mani Deekshitha’s most memorable moment was something that happened at her site. “It was the successful completion and commissioning of a critical structure that I had been closely involved with from the foundation stage,” she shares excitedly. “Just seeing the planning, teamwork, and effort come to life was both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.”

Though there is the excitement of working for such a large organization on such a prestigious project, Deekshitha is quick to agree that as a civil engineer there are several challenges she must face including working within tight schedules, coordinating with multiple disciplines, managing work in congested areas alongside ongoing activities, and handling last-​minute design changes at site. As she has learnt her ropes, she has evolved her own methods to address these challenges. “I focus on meticulous planning, daily progress monitoring, and effective manpower deployment,” she says, ticking them off, “and use digital tools for real-​time tracking, conduct regular coordination meetings with subcontractors, and ensure quick resolution of site issues through proactive communication. The result: we have successfully maintained both quality and timelines,“ ‘she smiles triumphantly.

About the tech tools deployed at their site, Deekshitha mentions the Shield App, CONQURE (for quality), Wrench (for drawings, document control, and progress monitoring), along with 3D modelling/​BIM and digital dashboards for real-​time tracking. “These tools have enhancedd coordination, reduced delays, and accelerated site progress,” she stresses. She hopes for an integrated Al-​powered project management platform that can combine real-​time site monitoring through drones, automatically track progress, provide predictive analytics for potential delays, and instant coordination.

“In my short career, I understand that planning and seamless coordination between all stakeholders is key when delivering large projects like this one,” says Deekshitha, nodding, “apart from proactive problem-​solving, identifying and addressing issues at an early stage to prevent delays and ensuring that the project stays on track without compromising quality.”

Tech solutions have improved coordination, minimized delays resulting in better project efficiencies. Aisha mentions a systematic approach for structural material to meet the erection requirements and modularization of structural erection that have both increased their pace of erection as well as enhanced resource utilization. “Despite coming from a civil background, I actively prepared and managed detailed planning schedules for mechanical activities, ensuring that they are achieved,” she says brightly, adding that the team has strengthened their MIS system (JCRs, MPCS, FDS, and site progress) for real-​time tracking, analysis, and timely decision making, improving visibility and accountability.

“As a woman in the engineering field, I have always believed that true talent is not just about skills, it’s about the attitude of the mind that nurtures and amplifies those skills,” shares Aisha, with a composed expression. “After passing out from college as the Best Outgoing Student, having led two organizations — NSS & MUN — I never expected similar opportunities in the workplace, but L&T is different where I am being honoured to compère many events keeping the spirit of engagement and camaraderie alive.”

She is thankful to M&M IC for the wonderful opportunity to grow through the Executive MBA programme in ICM from NICMAR, Pune, in collaboration with L&T IPM. “As the youngest in the batch, sharing the classroom with many senior L&T‑ites is an incredible experience, enriching me with knowledge, wisdom, and new perspectives.”

Hailing from Alappuzha in God’s own country Kerala and single, Aisha’s immediate family is her father, Hussain M S, and mother, Ajitha R.

FRESH OFF THE BLOCKS, RARING TO FLY

Challenges are part and parcel of site life and one of Anuruddh’s major concerns has been to ensure coordination across multiple teams working on tight schedules in a high-​pressure environment. As mitigation measures, they started holding daily coordination meetings with all stakeholders. “I focus on maintaining open and transparent communication and use digital checklists and monitoring tools to track task completion, which has helped improve synchronization and significantly reduced delays.”

When I first came to site, I did not even know the basics of handling site work and today, I am leading the structural part of the caster area — one of the most critical zones of the project,” shares an elated G N S Sri Sowmith Reddy, from his first project with L&T at the challenging AM/​NS site. “This was possible only because of my seniors, who encouraged me, gave me a platform to think innovatively, and guided me whenever I made mistakes. My team too has supported me throughout with safe and smooth execution,” he says, in gratitude for the support and cooperation he has received at site that has helped him describe a steep learning curve.

Quite unsurprisingly, he declares, “My most memorable moment was when the first EOT crane was commissioned in our project, where I led the structural part and was proud to see such large-​scale machinery successfully lifting heavy loads.” Sowmith is quick to heap praise on the organization he is a part of. “In L&T, power comes with responsibility,” he says ays with newfound wisdom, “and the more responsibility you take, the more value and trust you earn.”

“We integrated modular erection methods to speed up work,” he says, sharing his responsibilities are site. “In fact, one erection was so unique that a senior client representative said he hadn’t seen such execution in his 25-​year career!” One of the major challenges the site faced was to manage heavy and elevated erections in congested areas. “We overcame them by alternate sequencing, close coordination, training workmen, adopting modularisation and innovative erection methods,” ticks off Sowmith, who after a pause adds with a grin, “It’s all about imagineering!”

Front readiness, according to him, is the key to successful execution, ensuring that drawings, materials, manpower,and equipment are available on time. “With proper roper planning, coordination, communication, and quick decision-​making, even large projects like our AM/​NS project can be executed at speed,” he says with a vigorous nod.

Just into her second year with L&T and at her first project, the SMP#3 of the AMNS project, Vempada Sarvani’s main challenge was joining the project midway, which made it difficult for her to catch up with the pace and ongoing activities. One aspect that must have helped her is her army background, with her father being a retired Army officer, and she must be carrying that focus and discipline in her genes. From her part at site, she says, “I focused on understanding the existing workflows quickly and coordinated closely with different teams, paying special attention to detail while updating schedules and tracking progress.”

Helping Sarvani in her effort to bring herself up to speed is the collaborative and supportive environment that her seniors and team members have created in the planning department. “Their experience and encouragement have helped me learn quickly, work more efficiently, and contribute better to the team’s progress,” she says meaningfully.

Certainly, L&T’s culture of innovation and learning is helping her in a big way too, that she experiences keenly at her project. “It feels like a family,” she says proudly. “The support and collaboration I receive here motivate me every day to do my best and grow both personally and professionally,” and adds after a moment of thought, “I also appreciate how the company recognizes and values the work we do, giving us the confidence and opportunity to improve constantly.”

Being part of such a large & complex project has taught Sarvani that clear coordination and communication across all teams is critical for success. “Perfection at every level and contribution from every individual is vital to maintain quality and ensure tim progress,” she says insightfully. “It is important to be always proactive, identifying and addressing issues early helps prevent delays and keep projects on track.” On the tech front, she would love an Al-​​driven project planning and monitoring tool that integrates real-​​time site data with schedule forecasting to identify potential delays, optimize resource allocation, and automatically update schedules based on actual progress. “It will reduce manual follow-​​ups, improve accuracy, and allow planners to focus more on strategic decision-​​making,” she nods energetically.