S. N. SUBRAHMANYAN
CEO & MD, Larsen & Toubro
CELEBRATING A GIANT ACHIEVEMENT …
IN THE FACE OF THE PANDEMIC
Our achievement to fabricate the full span launching equipment – the mammoth Straddle Carriers and Girder Transporters – at our Kanchipuram manufacturing facility is not only a definitive development in Indian engineering and a significant step towards the speedy execution of the iconic High Speed Rail project, but it also represents what we, as an organization, are capable of and what we can achieve. It clearly shows that if we put our mind to it, nothing is impossible. Starting virtually from scratch, we have successfully conceived, designed, engineered, sourced, and built this huge equipment in time and to quality for the first time in the country.
SHOWCASING A 21ST CENTURY MINDSET
We have together achieved a huge engineering milestone because building such massive equipment calls for capabilities to balance the forces, to do the finite element analysis, and to put together the whole array of electronics and instrumentation. This achievement truly reflects an entirely new way of designing, planning, working, and executing, and as the Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said at the flag off event, it is reflective of a 21st century mindset, which is indeed high praise. It underscores the ability to be in sync with the times, understand present day challenges, evolve methods and solutions to face and overcome them.
A HUGE TRIUMPH OF TEAMWORK
This equipment has been created by a team drawn from various businesses and functions – our Product Engineering group – design engineers, our Construction Equipment group, and everyone else who thought through these gigantic manmade machines and put it all together along with the Minerals and Metal Fabrication and Heavy Civil teams at Kanchipuram marking a huge triumph of teamwork. The fact that right from the tyre curing process to making the tyres, to the hydraulics and numerous other mechanical, electrical and electronic components that are essential to these machines, was made both in house at L&T and indigenously procured is a testimony not only to the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan as stated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister but also truly an AatmaNirbhar Abhiyan within L&T.
Another sterling quality of this achievement is that most of the work was completed when the pandemic was at its height. Certainly, the big team would have had issues of staying safe and healthy, of coordinating supplies and deliveries, and several other considerations therefore it is great that so many leaders, seniors, engineers, support staff and workmen answered the call of duty during these tough and unprecedent times to deliver so handsomely.
What we have achieved and showcased is great, but we still have a long way to go to achieve our ultimate goal of delivering the high-speed rail project. We need to quickly complete all the remaining tests and transport the equipment to the various construction locations to put these pieces of equipment into action.
REVIVAL ACROSS THE BOARD
It is equally heartening to note that our people across businesses, across locations and geographies have been putting company first to perform and deliver during these times. The pandemic is still very much in our midst but we, as an organization, have learnt the hard way to live with it and deliver despite its adverse impact. The overall sentiment seems to be turning with a marked increase in buoyancy all around. The bourses are reflecting this rising groundswell of positivity and indications are that the economy will rebound and bring more opportunities along with it.
At ground zero, several of the disruptions remain but we need to continue to constantly think innovatively and stay ahead of the curve. If there has been one positive fallout of the pandemic, it is the increased and sustained use of mechanization, automation and digitalization that is driving our efficiencies. We need to continue pushing hard on these fronts as there is still a lot of ground to cover, a lot of catching up to do. Every process, however small or insignificant seeming, has the potential to improve productivity if we have the mindset and the attitude to scrutinize, explore, and discover better solutions.
To borrow a cricketing phrase, it is imperative to always keep your eyes on the ball – be it to enhance our efficiencies, improve productivity, quicken execution, or grab the opportunities that are bound to materialize sooner rather than later.
We are in the process of putting finishing touches to our Lakshaya 2026 and as we look forward and plan, it is just as important to stay focussed on the ‘now’, to remind ourselves of our immediate committed targets and do everything possible to achieve them.
All the best!