K VEERAPPAN RECOGNIZED AS THE
‘LEGEND OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION’ BY ISCC
K. Veerappan
Vice President & Head – EDRC, B&F IC
The Statue of Unity; Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera; Bangalore International Airport; IICC–Dwarka Convention Centre; Sky Bridge, Project Atmosphere; A M Naik Tower, Mahape; SCB Hospital, Cuttack; and several more are not only some iconic projects executed by L&T, but these have also benefited from the involvement of K. Veerappan (KVP), Vice President & Head – EDRC B&F IC. It is therefore only appropriate for him to be recognized as the Legend of Steel Construction with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Steel Construction Council on the occasion of Steel Day 2022. The well-attended event in Mumbai featured 73 experts speaking on the theme of ‘Simplifying Steel’.
For the past 38 fulfilling years, KVP has been busy, as he says, “working on steel structures like airports, stadiums, houses, convention centres and exhibition halls, auditoriums, statues, industrial structures, factories and warehouses, office buildings, and hospitals,” adding that he has gained some invaluable experience designing framed & long-span structures, circular domes, complicated steel structures for statues, various types of trusses, façade supports, steel chimneys, and more. Currently, KVP leads a 710-strong team of architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, BIM, and sustainable design experts.
“It is overwhelming to receive such a prestigious award in front of so many eminent steel experts,” said an overawed KVP, after receiving his award. “My family and fellow L&T‑ites were elated to see the trophy in my hands. I am sure such awards will motivate young engineers to achieve bigger and better things!”
Durable, long-lasting, and environment friendly, steel is considered the premier ‘green’ construction material, as it is recyclable, and its recycling rate far exceeds those of other materials. “It is possible to construct faster with steel, and its usage is increasing significantly,” he points out. “At L&T, apart from regular steel structures, we also construct office buildings and hospitals with steel,” adding that it will be used in data centre projects going forward. “The recent development of high-strength steel, availability of larger sections, more fabrication facilities, and so on are only going to increase and the use of steel in construction will flourish over the next 3–5 years,” he says, looking ahead.
His vast and varied experience has taught KVP to swiftly overcome obstacles. Stringent timelines, he remarks, are a major challenge for most projects, coupled with maintaining quality at site. “We have to continuously train engineers to deliver fast and at the same time optimize design as well.” Strict adherence to proper SOPs, KVP believes, ensures prompt completion of work with absolutely no compromise on quality.
“We need to develop skilled people in design, fabrication, erection, and quality assurance,” he signs off, passionately.