Adherence to Commitment: Vascon Engineers

Santosh Sundararajan
Mr. Santosh Sundararajan, CEO, Vascon Engineers, says "Within the company the concept or culture is to try to over exceed the commitment given to a customer" in an interaction with Varsha Trehan.

The name Vascon Engineers is synonymous with timely deliveries of projects. What is the motivation behind achieving this? Please tell us about the recognitions the company has received for various projects.
The motivation to complete any project at the earliest possible is two-fold. The first one, as for anybody, is getting the best profitability. The more we delay the project, the more it costs us. We would be killing ourselves in terms of profitability, if we delay the project delivery.

The second factor for Vascon Engineers is a higher consideration than just profitability or cost cutting. Within the company, the concept or culture is to try to exceed the commitment given to a customer. This is the underlying principle—adherence to commitment, whether it is quality, timelines or other interactions, as laid down by Mr Vasudevan, Managing Director, from the very beginning.

You could say we are ‘mandated’ to keep our commitments and deliver as long as the client keeps to their end of the agreement, in terms of payments and other considerations.

The company’s efforts have been recognized by, among others Construction Week Awards 2011 for Ruby Mills under Tower Project of the Year Category; One Earth Suzlon was awarded the Platinum LEED NC rating at Washington DC on April 29, 2010; BAI Award and Nasik Real Estate Landmark Awards 2012 for our residential project “Vista” in Nashik for Best Building of the year in Residential Category.

What is the current size of the company with industry’s sectors it covers and in which region?
Vascon Engineers
We have a staff of about 800 people, which is excluding the support, labor and supervisory hands on sites etc. We had a turnover of Rs.1000 crore in 2010-11 and Rs.750 crore in FY 2011-12.

We executed a wide range of projects across most industry verticals and have also covered pharmaceutical, hospitality, residential, commercial and shopping malls.

In geographical spread, we are in the NCR region and Himachal Pradesh in the North India. In the South, we have our footprint in Chennai, Hyderabad, Madurai & Coimbatore. In Maharashtra, we are present in most of the major cities. Pune is of course, home base so we have a strong presence there.

Are there any niche segments that the company specializes in?
We have gained a lot of experience in the design and build business model. Taking this further, we are working on the advantage gained with our expertise in design. We are now sharing this expertise as a third party, something that is extremely rare in the market.

Recently, the Indian Prime Minister announced the easing of rules for transfer of government owned land to speed up infrastructure projects. What are your reactions to this move?
Good, definitely good! There is an immense need for infrastructure development, and any support from the government is always welcome, especially as the fiscal policies are not keeping up.

However, we have to wait and see if further moves also offer support. Besides land, there are several other issues that need to be cleared before infrastructure development reaches the required pace. The government has to be serious and show the will to ensure infrastructure development.

What are some major infrastructure projects executed by your company across India? Please highlight some of the challenges and special achievements faced during these project executions.
A high percentage of our projects are executed through the private sector. We do have some major government turnkey projects in our portfolio.

The Multilevel Carpark, at the Delhi International Airport, is the largest in Asia. It was a Rs.250 crore design and build project for the government through GMR. This was completed in 12 months, way ahead of the Commonwealth Games. The engineering, the massive calculations and the execution in a tight time frame was a great challenge as we had the complete responsibility for the same. Also we were working in Delhi, which was a place away from the home ground. The completion was a matter of great pride for all of us.

The construction of the Legislative Assembly complex in Chennai was also one of our large projects under the earlier government in the state. It is almost 40% completed, but is now put on hold over administrative issues.

We have completed two small ESIC hospital projects in Chennai and are working on a larger one in Mumbai. That is about half way through and is expected to be completed in about one year.

What are some initiatives that the real estate sector can include in its processes to support 1) the environment and 2) the local infrastructure? How does Vascon Engineers address these issues in its projects like Nature Springs, Talegaon for instance?
As a company, we have always included environment-friendly practices like water conservation and recycling much before these were considered for gaining ratings. We are already ISO: 14000 certified. Ratings of course help at the marketing stage, but it should be a part of any process as it is ethically right. The importance of conserving the environment should be given right at the construction stage itself. Construction utilizes several materials like wood, water and diesel etc and processes need to be worked out for optimal utility. This is more about CSR than the awards and other recognition.

As far as taxing local infrastructure goes, let me point out a major contribution of the real estate sector. It is the developers who go to the outskirts; call it no man’s land, if you will. Unlike foreign countries, where the government plans and develops infrastructure, in India we develop the infrastructure, complete our projects and then the government steps in. We deal with all the uncertainties like getting water and power for construction.

Take an area like Kalyani Nagar in Pune where we developed the Marigold complex when there was not much else development there. Today, it is one of the elite areas of the city. We take pride to say that we are strong force in pushing infrastructure development where we develop our projects, as the government is forced to keep pace.

The most recent launch of Nature Springs is another case in point. Located on the outskirts, this eco-friendly development is expected to be completed in 5-7 years. We gained from our experience in Kalyani Nagar and went ahead in this area.

Windermere

Would you share your future plans for expansion and upcoming projects? Do these include setting up in any Tier II and Tier III cities or entering into the Affordable housing segment?
In terms of future plans, we already have a good amount in our order books. Our present projects like Nature Springs have to be completed and running on their own. We are already in Tier II cities like Coimbatore, Madurai, Nasik, Belgaum, Kolhapur, Thane and others.

In the affordable housing segment, we would work on a small scheme Nature’s Nest in Talegaon. Moving from the luxury and high end segment, we are taking this as a learning experience on a small scale before we consider expanding in that direction.
NBMCW October 2012

No comments yet, Be the first one to comment on this.

×

Terms & Condition

By checking this, you agree with the following:
  1. To accept full responsibility for the comment that you submit.
  2. To use this function only for lawful purposes.
  3. Not to post defamatory, abusive, offensive, racist, sexist, threatening, vulgar, obscene, hateful or otherwise inappropriate comments, or to post comments which will constitute a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability.
  4. Not to post or make available any material which is protected by copyright, trade mark or other proprietary right without the express permission of the owner of the copyright, trade mark or any other proprietary right.
  5. To evaluate for yourself the accuracy of any opinion, advice or other content.
CD JINDAL Group: One Stop Solution for High-Quality Equipment Rentals

CD JINDAL Group: One Stop Solution for High-Quality Equipment Rentals

CD Jindal Group owes its success and sustained growth to delivering high-quality rental equipment, its customer-centric approach, and prioritising safety in operations for its customers.

Read more ...

Pearl Group: Meeting Demand for Sustainable Polyurethane Insulation Solutions

Pearl Group: Meeting Demand for Sustainable Polyurethane Insulation Solutions

According to Martin Kruczinna, CEO, Pearl Group, the company is well-positioned to meet demand of the Indian construction market for eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient solutions like PU insulation systems, sandwich panels

Read more ...

Shalimar Paints: Delivering High-Quality Paint & Coating Solutions

Shalimar Paints: Delivering High-Quality Paint & Coating Solutions

Shalimar Paints delivers high-quality, durable paint and coating solutions for infrastructure, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Kuldip Raina, Director - Sales & Marketing, Shalimar Paints, shares the company’s growth drivers and plans to achieve market leadership in the highly competitive paint industry of India.

Read more ...

Shyam Steel's Innovative Steel Solutions: Legacy of Strength & Durability

Shyam Steel's Innovative Steel Solutions: Legacy of Strength & Durability

Shyam Steel Industries is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation, excelling in the production of high-quality TMT Rebars essential for constructing safe and durable infrastructure projects. As the demand for reliable steel

Read more ...

ENDEAVOUR Intelligent Equipment Offers Brick & Block Making Machines

ENDEAVOUR Intelligent Equipment Offers Brick & Block Making Machines

Our modern designing and manufacturing infrastructure and our continuous innovation and technological improvements based on extensive R&D have positioned us as a premier supplier of best quality plants and machineries.

Read more ...

Upskilling Civil Engineers for Resilient Infrastructure in India

Upskilling Civil Engineers for Resilient Infrastructure in India

As India’s infrastructure expands to meet the demands of a growing population and economy, the gaps in construction expertise and professional integrity become more apparent. This is where the role of education, training, and skill

Read more ...

DFI-India to Present Latest Technologies for Deep Foundation Construction

DFI-India to Present Latest Technologies for Deep Foundation Construction

DFI-India 2024 Conference Core team, of the upcoming 13th Annual Conference to be held in Goa from 19 - 21 Sept’24, share their views on the positive impact of the conference through knowledge sharing, opportunity for networking with experts

Read more ...

Menard Adding Value to Infra Projects with Ground Improvement Technology

Menard Adding Value to Infra Projects with Ground Improvement Technology

The market for Ground Improvement Technology in India is dynamic and growing due to the country's rapid urbanization and infrastructure development, observes Ian White, Business Head (India & Srilanka), Menard.

Read more ...

ArcelorMittal Projects India: Customised & Sustainable Steel Solutions

ArcelorMittal Projects India: Customised & Sustainable Steel Solutions

ArcelorMittal offers a wide range of high-quality steel sheet piles, foundation pipes, and customized steel solutions for construction projects in India. The products are known for their durability, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling

Read more ...

HD Hyundai Wheel Loader with Cutting-edge Technology to Enhance Productivity

HD Hyundai Wheel Loader with Cutting-edge Technology to Enhance Productivity

HD Hyundai India is making advancements in the mining industry with its wheel loaders that are integrated with cutting-edge technologies to enhance operational efficiency and increase productivity, avers Sharwan Agnihotri, Head - Mining

Read more ...

Tata Hitachi Offers Technologically Advanced & Versatile Backhoe Loaders

Tata Hitachi Offers Technologically Advanced & Versatile Backhoe Loaders

Siddharth Chaturvedi, General Manager, Marketing, Tata Hitachi, emphasizes the importance of developing technologically advanced, emission-free, and versatile machines like backhoe loaders, to meet the growing demand for efficiency

Read more ...

HD Hyundai SMART Plus & HX Series Mining Excavators: Powerful & Durable

HD Hyundai SMART Plus & HX Series Mining Excavators: Powerful & Durable

"HD Hyundai’s mining excavators SMART Plus, and HX series are designed to deliver durability and enhanced performance, along with operator safety and comfort, to bring maximum value to users in the tough mining industry," avers Sharwan

Read more ...

CFlo Expands Manufactured Sand Solutions Amidst Growing Demand

CFlo Expands Manufactured Sand Solutions Amidst Growing Demand

Washed sand manufacturing specialist, CFlo – a premium global brand of CDE Asia Limited, is widening its range of solutions by harnessing various mineral resources for producing Manufactured Sand. Manish Bhartia, Promoter & Managing

Read more ...

Fischer Group Offers Specialized & High-Performance Anchors & Fasteners

Fischer Group Offers Specialized & High-Performance Anchors & Fasteners

Fischer Group, a renowned name in construction anchors and fasteners, is playing a key role in India's booming infrastructure sector. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and local manufacturing has positioned them as a trusted partner for

Read more ...

NBM&CW Celebrates 30 Years of Progress in the Construction Industry

NBM&CW Celebrates 30 Years of Progress in the Construction Industry

This month marks a significant milestone for our publication as we celebrate 30 years of dedicated service to the construction industry. For over three decades we have been relentless advocates for the adoption of technology, equipment

Read more ...

The Future of Indian Infrastructure Construction Landscape

The Future of Indian Infrastructure Construction Landscape

The Indian construction industry is poised for a significant transformation over the next two decades. With a strong focus on infrastructure development, India will invest over 1.40 trillion USD in the next five years on infra

Read more ...

KNR Constructions: Optimizing Project Delivery with Advanced Equipment

KNR Constructions: Optimizing Project Delivery with Advanced Equipment

Mechanization is helping projects become more financially viable. At KNR, we have become self-reliant by deploying our own equipment and new construction methodologies, which is also helping us optimize cost and time during

Read more ...

Volvo CE: Electric Excavators, Wheel Loaders, Haulers & Compactors

Volvo CE: Electric Excavators, Wheel Loaders, Haulers & Compactors

Volvo CE India is a frontrunner in sustainable construction equipment, offering electric excavators, wheel loaders, haulers, and compactors alongside advanced technologies for efficiency and flexible business models to meet evolving customer needs.

Read more ...

Rajpath Infracon: Transformative Technologies Driving Growth Opportunities

Rajpath Infracon: Transformative Technologies Driving Growth Opportunities

Rajpath Infracon recognizes that innovation is the key to building sustainable, efficient, and durable roads for the future. They advocate for the adoption of advanced technologies throughout the entire project lifecycle - from materials and design to construction and maintenance.

Read more ...

To get latest updates on whatsapp, Save +91 93545 87773 and send us a 'Saved' message
Click Here to Subscribe to Our eNewsletter.