{"id":4830,"date":"2020-12-07T11:16:58","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T05:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.lntecc.com\/eccnews_oct_mar_2021\/?p=4830"},"modified":"2020-12-14T12:21:48","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T06:51:48","slug":"rrec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/services.lntecc.com\/eccnews_oct_mar_2021\/rrec\/","title":{"rendered":"RREC"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1588268356963{padding-right: 5px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_class=”bgh” css=”.vc_custom_1593496719909{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”]\"\"<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11\/12″][vc_empty_space height=”48″ el_class=”bgh” css=”.vc_custom_1588268256681{margin-left: -10px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text el_id=”ecc-menu”][maxbutton id=”31″] [maxbutton id=”41″] [maxbutton id=”32″] [maxbutton id=”33″] [maxbutton id=”34″]
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\n[maxbutton id=”40″] [maxbutton id=”45″][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4832″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607591221232{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1607320919336{margin-top: 20px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_id=”ecc-font” css=”.vc_custom_1607671426631{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

A VETERAN LEADS THE ACTION<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Yatin Surendra Dave,<\/span><\/h3>\n

DGM (Civil), RREC[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4842″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1607671516817{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4838″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607697873685{margin-top: 20px !important;}”]He is a veteran with over three decades of experience in construction but Yatin Dave will be the first to admit that he has never faced the challenges that COVID-19 has thrown up. Having spent 13 of his working years with L&T across some challenging road projects including the Unnao \u2013 Lucknow Expressway, Beawar Pali Pindwara, Ahmedabad \u2013 Mallya and Vadodara \u2013 Bharuch, Yatin is presently with the CP 303 Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor project at Meerut in UP. \u201cAfter the lockdown was relaxed, our focus was to scale up productivity to pre-COVID levels which required massive coordinated day-to-day efforts between our staff and workmen,\u201d he says, rubbing his hands as if almost warming up to share about a favourite subject.<\/p>\n

It was not easy as Yatin and his team had to resolve several problems. \u201cWe ensured utilisation of machineries, resolved issues with both the local farmers and with the mining department and rigorously implemented COVID-19 SOPs before start of work every day.\u201d Organizing skilled workmen and operators was another tough task because after identifying them, Yatin had to work hard and diligently to convince them and their families that it was safe for them to work. \u201cRetaining them is equally important and we have been continuously encouraging them and doing everything to make them feel at home.\u201d He smiles and adds, \u201cWe regularly monitored the achieved data, reviewed them daily which has been a major reason for our success.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607077762830{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Yatin is thankful to his seniors at site, especially his Project Manager, Vikram Kohli, for their directions, advice, and guidance during these testing times. \u201cAll the COVID SOPs were digitally recorded, we digitally tracked our equipment for their productivity and used apps like PREP,\u201d he says, sharing the benefits of digitalization at\u00a0site.<\/p>\n

Yatin is a very settled and satisfied employee because some of his most cherished moments are when he joined L&T and completed some of the projects he has been involved with. When quizzed about what makes him proud of being an L&T-ite, he responds, \u201cI can take decisions within my scope of work, review and scale them up, I get great pleasure from my work and am proud of my higher achievements at the end of each day!\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1607321704086{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4843″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607591373799{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607671583865{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}” el_id=”ecc-font”]<\/p>\n

IT IS GREAT TO PRACTISE YOGA DURING THESE TIMES<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Mahendra Kumar Dwivedi<\/span><\/h3>\n

Senior Manager (Stores), RREC[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]At a time when the entire world is in turmoil trying to find a way to combat COVID-19, it is great for people to practise yoga for calmness of mind and a healthy body. Mahendra Dwivedi\u2019s hobby is to practice yoga by which he has found better ways and means to face these testing times. A 27-year-old veteran at L&T having been associated with a wide range of TI IC projects including the Khalifa Interchange project in UAE, ADAC, Mafarat Road Project, Mirdif City Centre Interchange, Jebel Ali and several other projects in India, he is presently managing stores at the Mumbai Vadodara Expressway project.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4845″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img” css=”.vc_custom_1607591427197{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607078872766{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607698002296{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]True to his role, Mahendra\u2019s major concern when the pandemic started to spread resulting in the country going into a lockdown was the non-availability of transport for the supply of essential material. \u201cAll our vendor activities were closed and since the site urgently required essential material like groceries and PPE equipment like masks, soap, sanitizers and the like for our 1,200 workmen at site, we directly contacted the market, identified vendors who had stock, procured permissions for vehicle movement from the district administration with the help of our admin team and ensured delivery of the supplies. We were able to source PPE items from a regular vendor,\u201d he informs adding that, \u201cWe arranged for a sanitizing chamber, provided N95 masks to all the staff, surgical masks and gloves to all the workmen.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4850″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1607671738883{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Even when the lockdown restrictions were relaxed and operations resumed at site, Mahendra\u2019s role remained crucial as a site cannot function properly without essential items and it was his responsibility to ensure that adequate stocks were readily available. \u201cMy Project Manager was extremely concerned about\u00a0the COVID situation and its impact on the project, so he kept regularly following up with me for items,\u201d says Mahendra. \u201cIn fact, he meticulously monitors things as per the management guidelines.\u201d Going forward, even as projects learn to live with the virus, people like Mahendra must continue to lend vital support to keep operations ticking.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]\u201cAfter 27 years of service, there is not one but many aspects of L&T that make me proud of this great organization,\u201d he says revealing his admiration for the company he keeps. \u201cWhether it is career growth or opportunities or recognition or even family and medical care, this company is the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mahendra hails from Jhalun in Uttar Pradesh, is married to Poonam, a homemaker and they are blessed with two daughters, Nimisha and Richa. Of course, he loves to spend time with them when he is not practising yoga.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4846″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607591605111{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607671769668{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}” el_id=”ecc-font”]<\/p>\n

ENJOYING THE FREEDOM
\nTO PERFORM<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Koushik Upadhyay<\/span><\/h3>\n

Construction Manager (Civil), RREC[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201cI really enjoy the freedom to work at L&T which has hugely helped me to plan my activities and execute them at site even at critical times,\u201d declares Koushik Upadhyay, presently working at the Mumbai Nagpur Expressway project. Having joined the company in 2006, he is already on his fifth project after stints at the BIAL, HGSRP, Gujarat, Beawar Pali Pindwara and SR Way, Odisha projects before taking up responsibilities at his present\u00a0assignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith cases rising in Maharashtra, no one was really interested to come to work at our project so I realized that I had a tough job on my hands to mobilize as much as labour by the time the Unlock was announced,\u201d shares Koushik. \u201cI personally visited some villages to locate workmen and initially we got about 50 of them to carry out the day-to-day small concreting and housekeeping works. We continued to work at it and with our collective efforts, we were able to mobilize about 300 fresh labour.\u201d As soon as this new force was in place, the project team quickly planned and executed some milestone works like VUP at 488 State Highway (in the midst of live traffic), Canal Bridge at 473 and BC at 475 (100 m length). \u201cWe were helped by our good planning, our stringent SOPs and very good management\u00a0support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koushik is extremely thankful to the Site Management for considering his request of sending conveyance vehicles to West Bengal, Jharkhand and UP to re-mobilize labour as soon as the Unlock was announced. \u201cThey immediately understood my proposal and approved it which helped me to restart the balance activities at site.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607079054222{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]If the project is proceeding in high gear after the Unlock, it has a lot to do with the way the SOPs are followed, and all precautions taken.<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate the organization for giving as much as importance to Safety and Quality as to execution.\u201d Another organizational initiative to drive digitalization has helped him a lot during these tough times and Koushik flags off digital solutions like WISA, Procube and electronic attendance marking as very useful to maintain COVID-19 protocols.<\/p>\n

Hailing from Durgapur in West Bengal, Koushik likes to travel and listen to music and, of course, share quality time with his wife, Sinjini, who is a dance teacher and daughter, Shreetoma. \u201cThe birth of my daughter has been the happiest moment of my life,\u201d he says with a broad smile.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4857″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607591758132{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607671851796{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}” el_id=”ecc-font”]<\/p>\n

WINGS TO IMPLEMENT NEW IDEAS<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4862″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1607322762526{margin-top: 10px !important;}” el_id=”ecc-img”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607322811450{border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #23949a !important;border-left-style: solid !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Faiz Ahmad Siddiqui<\/span><\/h3>\n

Construction Manager (Civil), RREC[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After having worked with other construction organizations, Faiz Siddiqui finds L&T\u2019s project management a class apart. \u201cI am a proud L&T-ite because the company gives me the freedom to work independently and take decisions in the best interests of the work,\u201d he says. \u201cIt provides me the wings to implement new ideas to complete the work within scheduled cost and timelines. L&T is also the best in terms of providing training to its employees by regularly organising training programmes to enhance our skill sets.\u201d Presently, Faiz is a part of the EDFC CP 303, 225 km long project that stretches from Khurja in the western part of Uttar Pradesh to the Pilkhani district of western UP.<\/p>\n

When operations resumed on May 6th<\/sup>, the two major issues facing Faiz and his team were the shortage of labour and nonsupply of adequate resources. \u201cMost of our works at site are machine oriented and given to subcontractors on back-to-back basis but re-mobilising them was very challenging in this pandemic situation. Ensuring a continuous supply for bulk materials was also a challenge as interstate commuting was strictly prohibited.\u201d They evolved plans to tackle these issues and their labour strength increased from 50 to 250 workmen by June. \u201cMeanwhile, our earthwork teams increased from 03 during lockdown to 11 by 15th<\/sup> June,\u201d shares Faiz. In addition, the team successfully obtained special passes from the district administration and the railways to ensure interstate movement of bulk materials thus ensuring the availability of adequate stock.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607671994840{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4864″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607748278922{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]\u201cAs per our mantra of \u2018Chase Cash\u2019, we took up the issue with our clients to ensure \u2018One Time Payment\u2019 of our invoicing held up due to stage payments,\u201d referring to a pending matter with the client. \u201cOther than financial support, our client, DFCCIL also ensured that special passes were issued from the local administration for us to continue working during the lockdown.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]It has been a triumph of teamwork, acknowledges Faiz. \u201cOur team members have been pillars of strength during these tough times, always ready to face and overcome all challenges,\u201d he shares \u201calways ready to put their best foot forward and complete the task within schedules. My seniors were a great support for me as they kept me and my team motivated. Our Project Manager, Vikram Kohli has been another great tower of strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faiz comes from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, is married to Nida Mushtaq, a homemaker, and they are blessed with three daughters, Hibah, Mawra and Qurat. During his free time, Faiz likes to play cricket and listen to soft music. The inauguration of the Gulawthi NTC Yard has been a hugely satisfying moment for Faiz.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4865″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607592168169{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_id=”ecc-font” css=”.vc_custom_1607592173188{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

\u201cTHE ACTIONS BY THE COMPANY HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY!\u201d<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607592210896{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #bd9706 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Monoj Kumar Deb<\/span><\/h3>\n

Construction Manager (Civil), RREC[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4878″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img” css=”.vc_custom_1607325503054{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Presently in his first assignment with L&T at the Ghospukur Salsalabari Road project, Monoj Kumar Deb is full of praise for his company for the way it has prioritized the health and safety of its employees and workmen before business. \u201cThe actions taken by the company have been exemplary,\u201d he says with conviction, \u201cand the way the senior management has taken care of people across sections is really worth mentioning.\u201d<\/p>\n

A veteran of several projects before joining L&T, Monoj\u2019s biggest challenge at GSRP has been to arrange for manpower. \u201cSince most of our skilled workers were from other states, they had left for their native places. So, we were forced to recruit locally available workers, who were oblivious of the construction industry. We had to train them about the job, motivate them to work tirelessly while, at the same time, follow all the safety guidelines.\u201d Understandably, getting these workmen to follow the new norms of working and the COVID-19 guidelines are proving to be tough propositions as is coping with the local administration.<\/p>\n

With operations resuming, the pressure on Monoj and his colleagues were to start running. \u201cTo achieve our milestones, I had to motivate the subcontractor agencies to commence work,\u201d he explains. \u201cAs there were various agencies involved in different tasks, I had to go to the grassroot level to convince them to initiate work. There were six earthwork agencies, involving a large work pool, apart from the labour contractors.\u201d In fact, he went one step further by visiting every camp of his vendors, sanitizing their colonies, and making them aware of the Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts to prevent the spread of the virus. \u201cWe engaged the new workmen and trained them, kept the new ones separately in quarantine rooms and ensured the safety of workmen through regular screening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monoj appreciates the guidance of his seniors and his team\u2019s cooperation. \u201cMy senior supported us wholeheartedly in the decision making while pointing out loopholes to help solve various administrative problems. He provided the required resources as and when required to complete our targets and my team, honoured the collective decisions to complete the tasks accordingly,\u201d he says, revelling in the success of teamwork.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4871″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img” css=”.vc_custom_1607325025458{margin-bottom: 35px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Monoj, as his name suggests, comes from Silchar in Assam, is married to Paramita, a homemaker, and they have two children: daughter, Megha and son, Soumik. He fondly recollects his daughter\u2019s birth as a most memorable moment. Monoj loves driving and reading books but sadly hardly finds time for both.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607592405197{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_id=”ecc-font” css=”.vc_custom_1607748358988{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

IT IS SO REWARDING TO SAVE A LIFE<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Narayan Gupta<\/span><\/h3>\n

Manager (Industrial Relations), RREC[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Keeping employees and workmen safe is the foremost consideration for all HR, IR and EHS personnel during these days of the pandemic and for Narayan Gupta at the Ghoshpukur \u2013 Salsalabari road project, saving a life has been an extremely rewarding experience. \u201cDuring March, Jyotirmoy Chakraborty, a supervisor with of one of our subcontractors was suffering from severe abdominal pain and couldn\u2019t access proper treatment at the Jalpaiguri area,\u201d he shares. \u201cI immediately arranged an ambulance and he was admitted at the North Bengal Medical Hospital, Siliguri in a serious condition requiring an immediate operation. After consultations with the doctors, he was successfully operated upon and touchwood, he is fine,\u201d says Narayan, touching his head.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4886″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img” css=”.vc_custom_1607592639589{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Apart from saving lives and keeping his employees and workmen at site safe by religiously following all the SOPs and taking every precaution, Narayan had the onus of addressing the labour issue. \u201cIt was a challenging time for me to convince our workmen to stay back as critical works had already started at site and we needed skilled manpower. I was able to retain them to some extent,\u201d he says. \u201cAnother major problem was to re-mobilize workmen for which our priority was to arrange as many quarantine rooms as possible at site locations for the newly deployed labour and we arranged facilities for about 100 workmen.\u201d They speeded up the screening process as about 600 new workmen were deployed. \u201cDue to this timely action, our project achieved several milestones like the opening of the strategically important Teesta Bridge, Kantivita ROB-1 and the Ghoshpukur flyover,\u201d he says, happy with his contribution.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4883″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607672168979{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]Aware of the financial burden that the organization was bearing, Narayan and his team discussed with various landowners and vehicle owners to reduce land rent and vehicle hire charges, saving up to INR 10 lakhs in the process. \u201cI am very grateful to my seniors for their valuable advice, and the necessary support to face and overcome this difficult situation to maintain the site and safeguard the health of our people,\u201d says Narayan, acknowledging the role of his site leadership.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1607672192800{margin-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]\u201cMy most memorable moment was when I received my appointment letter from L&T,\u201d he says delightedly. Narayan hails from the Barwani district of MP, is married to Sarika, a homemaker, and they are blessed with a 10-year-old daughter, Aashini. \u201cMy wife was so happy and proud of me when I joined L&T and I was extremely happy and proud when I received the DELTA Award-2020 in Mumbai for Best Energy Optimization,\u201d he smiles. During his free time, he likes to paint and listen to good music, but his Sundays are exclusively for his\u00a0daughter.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4885″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img” css=”.vc_custom_1607592883790{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607592837175{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”4892″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img” css=”.vc_custom_1607326333442{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]When faced with a crisis, it always helps to prepare and plan to face it. At RREC\u2019s Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Project, along with his planning team, Gandi Saikumar has been fighting to stay ahead of the pandemic. \u201cOur biggest problem was the shrinking labour force at site for which our Structure Labour Team proved to be a big asset,\u201d he explains. \u201cInitially, we convinced nearly 400 of our workmen to remain at site and later during the lockdown, we mobilized another 1,400 from across the country by being in constant communication with them, even arranging transportation for them right from their homes to our site.\u201d Saikumar is obviously pleased with their effort because the results have been more than encouraging. \u201cOn one hand, we achieved our invoice targets and executed 12,969 quantum of concrete production work in the month of May,\u201d he says, leaning back with an air of having done it! He mentions the weekly perks that they have introduced for the workmen that has also pushed up\u00a0productivity.<\/p>\n

On his second project, after an initial stint at the Kanaktora Jharsugda Road project, Saikumar gratefully acknowledges that both his client and vendors have been willing to adjust and work according to the new situation. \u201cOur client has relaxed our billing schedules as per the guidelines of the Central Government that has helped us to maintain our cash flows while our vendors, although with much persuasion, have continued their service.\u201d With cost control becoming one of the prime focus areas in the present situation, Saikumar has been in the thick of finding and implementing ways to reduce costs. \u201cWe were able to convince our P&M vendors to drop down their IHC to minimum feasible costs during the lockdown and we even de-hired some machinery, about 70 assets like pavers, rollers, transit mixers, water tankers to reduce our overheads.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Hailing from the young state Telangana\u2019s capital, Hyderabad, Saikumar loves to take long drives in his free time with his wife, Madhuri, a homemaker and son, Sriyansh but laments that he hardly gets any opportunities to pursue his hobby. \u201cThe birth of my beloved son was undoubtedly the most memorable moment of my life,\u201d he says with great feeling, \u201cYes,\u201d he nods, \u201cDigitalisation certainly helped us during the lockdown. We could monitor assets through fuel sensors, the FD App, online weighing, and the like. And, of course, there was continuous learning through Webinars, Teams. Lastly I am really thankful to our Management for giving me the chance to work with such a fantastic organization,\u201d he signs off gratefully.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4898″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607596042481{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text el_id=”ecc-font” css=”.vc_custom_1607672268959{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

SURMOUNTING HUGE OBSTACLES
\nTO SUCCEED<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607326618909{border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #d66730 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Gurvinder Singh<\/span><\/h3>\n

Assistant Construction Manager (Civil), RREC[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]\u201cMy jurisdiction (D1) has a total scope of 78 lakh cum of earthwork which is the highest among all the stretches and consequently the arrangement of such huge quantum of borrow earth soil has been my biggest challenge,\u201d explains Gurvinder Singh, from the EDFC CP 303 project that involves civil construction and track works of 222 km single railway line on a design, build and lumpsum basis. \u201cD1 is also one of the most difficult places to work due to its typical topography, network of canals and the sugarcane belt, considering which it is also the most difficult to arrange for borrow earth. After a lot of deliberation with the farmers and our continuous effort, I was able to get 5 lakh cum of earth in a single day from the farmers which was indeed a Eureka moment for me and my team,\u201d he shares proudly. A related issue for Gurvinder was the closure of the mining and other government offices due to the lockdown but with proper liaising, borrow earth soil was made available for work to proceed smoothly.<\/p>\n

Procuring borrow earth soil was not Gurvinder\u2019s only obstacle. \u201cArrangement of labour was an issue after many of them returned to their native places and mobilizing the locally available labour was an even bigger challenge,\u201d he remarks. \u201cProcurement of bulk materials was critical for smooth progress but with inter-state and intra-state traffic movements prohibited that was an issue and in a linear run project like ours, training workmen about the COVID precautions along the entire stretch was very tough.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4912″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1607672319506{margin-top: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Not one to be deterred, Gurvinder and his team set about overcoming their many obstacles. \u201cBy engaging rigorously with them, we increased the number of subcontractors from 3 to 12 in the ERS works alone as ERS construction is critical for further formation works in the detour. Our earthwork teams also increased from 6 to 14 by mid-June,\u201d he shares some of their wins. Special passes from the district administration and the railways opened the way for interstate movement of bulk materials.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]\u201cBut key to our success has been the motivational and financial support from our senior management during these tough times,\u201d says a grateful Gurvinder. \u201cOur Project Manager, Mr. Vikram Kohli gave us a free hand to go to any extent financially to ensure the safety of all our work staffs including subcontractors which eventually brought us great benefits across all work fronts.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Having fought so many battles, it is not surprising that Gurvinder hails from Kurukshetra in Haryana. His better half is Neelam Rani, a homemaker, and they have three children: daughters Gunjan Kaur and Gurveen Kaur and son, Ridham Jot Singh. Newspapers and novels hold Gurvinder\u2019s interest during his free time.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4909″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4912″ img_size=”ecc-img”][vc_single_image image=”4910″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607596305471{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607597000581{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}” el_id=”ecc-font”]<\/p>\n

STRIVING TO KEEP HIS SAFETY
\nRECORD INTACT<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=”4917″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1607328517629{border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #f58020 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Debajit Jana<\/span><\/h3>\n

Senior EHS Engineer, RREC[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]During these days of the pandemic, an EHS Manager\u2019s singleminded focus is to keep his employees and workmen safe from infection and Debajit Jana declares, with a certain degree of pride, that there has yet not been a single COVID positive case among the workmen at his Ghoshpukur Salsalabari Road project. \u201cWe have been diligently following all the mandates and advisories,\u201d he shares enthusiastically. \u201cWe have verified all our arrangements and measures taken as per the SOPs of the local District administration, health department authorities and other local government officials. They have appreciated our initiatives and have given us lots of certificates of appreciation,\u201d he grins though keeping his safety record intact in such times has been no laughing matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur main problems are threefold and all of them are labour related,\u201d he says holding up three fingers. \u201cFirst, the shortage of workmen as several of them had returned to their native places and sadly, our subcontractors have not been very keen to bring them back. Secondly, we are facing huge issues of lack of skilled labour and last, though definitely not the least, is the problem of new labour, the local unskilled workmen who have no appreciation of safety or work procedures.\u201d Training is essential for this \u2018raw\u2019 labour. Since it is not possible to train them in big groups owing to the restrictions, Debajit and team have been organizing frequent and a greater number of small group training sessions that are helping.<\/p>\n

Although the COVID situation is without precedent, Debajit is still able to draw from his experience of having worked at two RREC projects previously: at the Kanaktora Jharsuguda road project and later at the Beawar Pali Pindwara project. Driving safety is not a one man\u2019s job and Debajit is thankful to his seniors and team members for their cooperation and support. \u201cWith the guidance and moral support from our Project Manager Sir, our team has performed excellently. He has given us a free hand to take decisions to combat this pandemic for the betterment of this project as well as the organisation. I am especially thankful to my seniors at HQ for their guidance, support and for providing detailed and easy-to-follow SOPs.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Debajit comes from Nandapur, Chandipur in West Bengal, is married to Sumana, a homemaker, and the couple are blessed with a daughter, Divyashri. \u201cHer birth has been the most joyous moment of my life,\u201d gushes a loving father. He loves to play cricket during his free time but cannot find too much of it, he smiles a trifle\u00a0sadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to be part of India\u2019s Number One construction company,\u201d he says with fervour, \u201cthat values my ideas and gives me opportunities for continuous learning and development!\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4922″ img_size=”full” el_id=”ecc-img”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1607596404784{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”4926″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1607596422133{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Although the restrictions have been relaxed, the threat of the pandemic remains and as sites return to action, the focus has been to keep our people safe from the virus as it is for IR Executive, Swagat Patra at the Mumbai Vadodara Expressway project. \u201cSince many workmen had left for their native places, we had to induct new local labour who were mostly untrained but it did not matter where they came from for all of them had to be thoroughly screened, checked, given the necessary PPE equipment before starting work. We could not even miss one because that could result in the infection spreading,\u201d says Swagat, highlighting the seriousness of his responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially, the team decided to only have a few personnel at work whose presence was essential but soon as the pace of activities started to pick up, the numbers rose as did the risk. \u201cBut we were not impacted,\u201d Swagat is assertive, \u201cbecause our team was successfully implementing all the necessary safety measures as published by the Government.\u201d Swagat\u2019s workload also includes arranging for rooms or flats for the new labour, creating quarantine centres and isolation rooms, operating separate vehicles to bring back labour from their native places, conducting awareness programmes, giving pep talks for everyone to take precautions, the list is long.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery moment that I have spent at L&T has been memorable especially when I was promoted,\u201d he says with feeling, having started his career with the company in 2010. \u201cI started off as an IR Assistant at the Jindal Power Project after which I got a chance to work at Maharashtra Power Plant, RRVUNL, Power Project. Then, as Assistant IR officer under contractual terms, I was posted at the Kannur International Airport Project and later at the Hospet Chitradurga Road Project, Karnataka.\u201d In 2018, Swagat became a permanent employee and was posted at ACCD Project, Telangana from where he has moved to his present assignment.<\/span><\/p>\n

He calls himself lucky for having found co-operation and support all around to perform his duties. \u201cOur conveyance vendors fully supported us by running their vehicles at huge risk during the lockdown while the local vendors have been very nice, helping us regularly and promptly with our essential items. Internally, all my seniors and each and every member of my team have guided me very well in all situations whenever I have approached them for any clarification or guidance for any problem.\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”4925″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Hailing from the village of Bhadrak in Odisha, Swagat has been married to Sumati for the last six years. \u201cI am a fitness freak,\u201d he smiles, \u201cand to keep my body in shape I regularly walk and occasionally do some yoga!\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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