Carrying his experience from other projects he has executed outside L&T, Surisetti Karthik Kumar is presently at his first project with L&T in a Corporate role as Quality Manager at the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project and he is thoroughly enjoying his association. “We are nation builders and working with a company like L&T makes you feel like you are working for our nation and that is what makes me proud of being a part of this organization.”
A man of few words, he says, “My best and unique initiative is that of teamwork, and it is my goal to encourage our teammates and my subordinates to work and learn new things from a quality perspective.” That he has succeeded in his initiative is reflected in his project winning L&T Construction’s Quality Award 2023.
About his challenge, Surisetti remarks, “Our main challenge and key deliverable is customer satisfaction. A lot of things go into achieving customer satisfaction like promptly responding to and resolving quality related issues and submitting the relevant compliance reports within the target date.”
He acknowledges that digitalization is certainly improving their levels of efficiency. “Yes,” he nods, “digital solutions are taking our knowledge to the next level. For example, in this project, we use digital solutions 100% for documenting, reporting and submission. We can keep all documents and reports at our fingertips by using digital solutions like Torq App, Wrench Client, QC App, RFI System and others.”
Being a strong proponent of teamwork, Surisetti is lavish in his praise for the support and cooperation he receives from his project team. “I am extremely thankful to my Project Director, Shyam Baboo Saraswat Sir, and our Chief Quality Manager, Indra Jeet Yadav Sir for their continuous encouragement,” he says passionately. “My team members Mr. Karthik Kumar, Mr. Anil Kumar, Mr, Navdeep Pareek, Mr. Dheeraj Kumar Dewangan and Mr. Prasant Singh Bist are all self-motivated, constantly help each other and without this team it would not have been possible for the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project to win quality awards,” he says with conviction.
Hailing from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, he is married to Surisetti Manogna, a homemaker, and they are blessed with a daughter, Surisetti Sonikha. “My favourite pastime is to listen to music that refreshes me, and my most memorable moments are my wedding with my life partner and the birth of my lovely daughter,” he says with love in his eyes.
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project is Anil Kumar’s first with L&T, but he acknowledges that it is both the toughest he has worked on till date and certainly the best. “Of all the companies I have worked with in the past, I love L&T’s work culture the best,” he says with vigor. “I have also worked at different metro projects and high-rise building projects in the past, but this project is the most challenging by far,” he says nodding his head. It was a huge moment of pride for Anil and his team members when a Priority Section of the RRTS was thrown open to the public by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on October 20th, 2023 – an affirmation that their efforts to maintain quality have been successful, further proven by the project winning L&T Construction’s Quality Award 2023.
Elaborating on the nature of difficulties he faces at the project, he shares, “It is a very unique project in terms of the technical requirements and another challenge is the involvement of an international agency to establish the new technology that we are using in the project.”
Anil is very unassuming about his own role in his team’s success. “I bring my experience, skills and understanding of projects that I have gained from my previous assignments to establish and maintain QMS (Quality Management Systems), by taking into confidence all the stakeholders and, at the same time, maintaining very good relations with our client.”
He is extremely understated about the digital adoption at site. “We are still at the learning stage to establish and maintain digital technology,” he smiles, “and are maintaining all our documents like RFIs, approvals, Quality NCNs/NCRs and observations raised and closed digitally.”
Success at construction sites is never a one man’s triumph and Anil is appreciative about the support and guidance he has been receiving from his seniors and the cooperation from his team members to keep performing as per expectations.
At the award-winning Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project, G M Balaji is executing his first project with L&T as an Engineer, responsible for Quality. “We are nation builders and that is what makes me proud to be part of this great organization,” he declares with obvious pride.
He brings with him the experience of having executed three other projects before joining L&T of which the 3rd was for CMRL in Chennai as Track Work Engineer for L&T Construction in a contract role from 2013 to 2016. “The work involved the design and construction of the metro track work, viaduct, tunnel, underground sections, and depot for a corridor, involving a total of 48 BLT TKm that we successfully completed and installed.”
At his present assignment, Balaji is delighted that the project has won L&T Construction’s Quality Award 2023, and he attributes their success to two aspects: teamwork and the ability to understand and instantly resolve client related issues. “Teamwork is perhaps the most important aspect in the success of a construction project because everyone is so dependent on each other,” he remarks. “It is equally vital to encourage our team members and subordinates for them to learn new things from a quality perspective.”
Quickly responding to and resolving quality related issues raised by the client and submitting compliance reports within the target date are just as important, he says with a knowing nod. “If our ultimate goal is customer satisfaction, then it is critical that we tick these boxes.” He is also a strong believer in the benefits of digitalization which he feels is taking the knowledge of the team to the next level.
Balaji expresses his appreciation to the role played by Chief Quality Manager, Mr. Indra Jeet Yadav Sir, for continuously encouraging his team members. “My team members, Mr. Karthik Kumar, Mr. Anil Kumar, Mr. Navdeep Pareek, Mr. Dheeraj Kumar Dewagan and Mr. Prasant Singh Bist all are self-motivated, help each other and without them this Quality Award would not have been possible.”
A native of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Balaji is married to Reshmika J C. and describes his marriage as the most memorable moment of his life. “My hobbies are playing cricket and watching movies,” he says, adding that during his college days he used to play every evening but hardly finds the time for it now due to his responsibilities.
Navdeep Pareek describes his wife’s role as homemaker as one filled with creativity, organizational skills, and a genuine passion for making their home a place of comfort and joy, that almost reflects his own efforts at work to drive Quality. “Proactive problem-solving, a collaborative mindset and a culture of continuous improvement are essential ingredients to achieve and maintain exceptional quality standards,” he shares. Obviously, his efforts have succeeded because his Delhi-Meerut RRTS project won L&T Construction’s Quality Award – 2023. “I encourage open communication and collaboration among team members that facilitate a free exchange of insights and best practices, fostering a collective commitment to excellence.”
Navdeep’s most recent project with L&T was the WDFC Project (CTP-1 & 2) where he led a dedicated team, overseeing the implementation of rigorous quality assurance processes that played a pivotal role in the success of the project. “My responsibilities encompassed concrete works for major bridges, minor bridges, ROB, RUB, precast girder, and slipform concrete work for major bridges through meticulous and strategic quality management.”
Sharing insights about his role as Quality Engineer, Navdeep feels that his major challenges regarding quality are balancing Quality and Productivity, continuous improvement, communication & collaboration, and Root Cause Analysis.
If not yet a Digital Native, he is certainly on the way to being one, as he holds forth on the benefits of digitalization. Managing audits on the TORQ-TI app is more efficient, streamlined, and easier. “The Quality App for updating RFI (Request for Inspection) records digitally has brought several benefits to our site like efficiency, streamlined processes, traceability, accountability, and more.” He adds that SPOT (System Process for Operational Tracking of deficiencies) ensures clear communication channels for deficiency resolution progress and regular updates to stakeholders on the status of deficiencies and corrective actions.
Appreciating the role of his seniors in his success, Navdeep acknowledges their valuable guidance, mentorship, and insights. “Their expertise and experience have been instrumental in helping me navigate complex challenges and make informed decisions,” he says.
Married to Priyanka Pareek, the joy of their lives is their son, Harshdeep, who’s birth is his life’s most defining moment. A native of Sadulshahar, District Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), he has a passion for cooking and experimenting new recipes, apart from taking long drives.
“The social impact of L&T’s initiatives provides me a platform to contribute meaningfully to the community and create a positive ripple effect in the lives of those around us,” he signs off with fervour.
“I am proud of being a part of this organization that is into nation building by executing such great projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, the RRTS Semi-High Speed Railway Corridor and so many more,” enthuses Laxmidhara Behera, his eyes shining. As part of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project, he is part of a winning team that has won L&T Construction’s Quality Award 2023.
After joining L&T in B&F IC as a DET in 2010 at Mumbai, Laxmidhara first worked at the L&T Realty Bhoiwada Precast Rehab Project in Khopoli before moving to Kuwait as Quality Engineer in the Acico Precast Project. Since the last quarter of 2021, he has been working as Assistant Manager at the RRTS Delhi-Meerut project, where, as he points out, it has been tough going. “My challenges include rejection control, production management, resource management, client management and the sustainability of personnel.”
Sharing about his approach to work, he says, “We segregated the CSTI workmen into teams for each activity, trained them on the respective activities and ensured that these same teams worked in dedicated activities from the very first day that we began casting. Our efforts have been very successful for we have minimized errors and greatly improved quality.” His sense of satisfaction is evident. “We provide technical assistance wherever required and support the teams in every situation so that the task is completed properly and in time.” He is happy about the intervention of raising and closing RFIs digitally has reduced paperwork, saved time, and reduced errors.
Even as young Laxmidhara builds his career with L&T, he is building his lovely family too. A native of Cuttack, Odisha, his better half is Sipra Sahoo, a homemaker, and they are blessed with one daughter, Adyashree. “I love to prepare delicious food,” he says licking his lips, and his life’s most precious moment, entirely understandable, was when his daughter entered his world.
He has had the opportunity to work at various railways, metro, semi high speed national and international projects. “I have worked at DFCCIL, Doha Metro, Riyadh Metro and Mumbai Metro Projects in various capacities as Site Engineer, Site In-charge – Track, QA&QC track, Manager – Track and the good thing is that I have learnt something from each of the projects that I have worked at,” says Pradeep Kumar, who is presently part of the Quality Award winning Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project team.
“Our success is because we motivate and guide our workers to help them make plans to achieve targets with quality, safety and within the timeline,” he shares wisely, revealing the experience he has gained on ground. “We provide very good training regularly for them to increase their knowledge and skill sets about the allotted work. Through our training programmes we promote collaboration, learning, growth and encourage participation in workshops, and skill-building activities.”
Pradeep shares about their work regimen of precisely detailing out points discussed at meetings, making plans to ensure that all those points are executed at site level and closed as per specifications. He mentions about the maintenance of a daily site inspection register as per the employer’s requirement that meets international standard specifications. “Very often, I involve myself in evolving innovative strategies through dedicated efforts, and effective teamwork.”
He enjoys the benefits of digitization that enables the project team to access data in the digital form from any location, eliminating the barriers of place, time, and synchronized access. “Easy access to information facilitates data flow about projects, that ensure adherence to quality norms,” he points out.
“I am proud working in a professionally managed Indian MNC that has such a good work culture and is employee-driven,” he says, clearly loving his association with L&T, adding that joining L&T was one of his life’s most fulfilling moments. “We work together, and all the departments collaborate for a common goal to create value for our customers, employees, and the environment.”
On his personal front, Pradeep hails from Akbarpur (Ayodhya), Uttar Pradesh, is married to Kusam Kumari, a homemaker, and they are blessed with one son, Kavyansh. Hobbies? Well, Pradeep loves to study and learn more about new work methods and technology.
He describes himself as “a bit of wanderer” but there is a focus and preciseness about the way Viswas Kumar goes about his work at the Quality Award winning Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project where he looks after planning. “We were entering uncharted territory in the railway industry by doing track slab installation for the first time in India, so it has been very exciting,” he says almost rubbing his hands. “We established a state-of-the-art precast yard to fabricate approximately 45,000 precast slabs that demanded an array of specialized tasks,” he shares, giving a hint of the complexity of their task.
To minimize interface and quality issues, slab transportation and shifting on viaducts or tunnels section was entrusted to a single agency while a mechanized slab installation gantry guaranteed accurate slab final parameter before grouting with the help of a track master. “Our production system seamlessly integrates the entire process, from concrete production to moulding of precast segment slabs, using a fully automated concrete distribution system,” Viswas explains, adding that advanced survey methods, featuring the US-based FARO Laser Method, ensure zero human error by comparing “As Manufactured” slabs with their 3D models.
It is no surprise that the project has won a Quality award for Viswas is clear that the team’s foremost responsibility lies in the procurement and planning of materials adhering to the most exacting standards of quality. Bulk supplies are scrupulously curated particularly for essential components like precast slabs casting and grouting, sourced directly from primary vendors. Raw materials and components are subject to meticulous inspection and testing, supplier relationships managed to ensure quality and timely delivery and the workforce empowered through comprehensive training and skill development programs. “We actively listen to customer feedback too on quality, performance, and durability,” he mentions.
A moment of pure joy for the entire team was when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi-GhaziabadMeerut RRTS Corridor on October 20th, 2023, within 34 months from commencement of the project. “This event undoubtedly holds immense significance not only for the region but also for India’s infrastructure development endeavours,” says Viswas with unbridled pride.
Hailing from Patna, Bihar and still single, Viswas describes his life as a juggle between his professional and personal lives. A proud L&Tite, of the many things he admires about L&T, what touches Viswas the most is that L&T acknowledges and appreciates honest, noble mistakes in the pursuit of continuous improvement.