WE ARE POSITIVE ABOUT CROSSING Rs.750 CRORE BY 2017-18

- Nitesh Gangaramani, Director, Al Fara´a Infraprojects Committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, Al Fara´a Infraprojects delivers a comprehensive array of capabilities in building, civil engineering, MEP and contracting-related specialities. Nitesh Gangaramani, Director, Al Fara´a Infraprojects, shares more on the company´s focus and plans... How do you see your business flourish from the current construction and infrastructure market in India? The construction and infrastructure sectors have always been an indicator of the Indian market situation, which now looks promising. After receiving the LOI for the Rs 530-crore JNPT SEZ project, we are confident and equally excited to dive deeply in this sector and explore the right opportunities in metros, national highways, mega infrastructure developments, water, wastewater, etc. From which segments do you get maximum business and what are your future growth prospects? The residential and commercial projects have been our major gateways for company revenue; and now, with conducive government policies, the infrastructure sector is gaining momentum. With huge developments under DMIC and cluster developments, infrastructure is developing in the Tier-II and Tier-III cities, followed by social infrastructure such as healthcare and education. What are the key elements you focus on while designing and building infrastructure? Technology plays a pivotal role in the construction sector. The shift from 2D drawings to 4D, 5D Building Information Modelling (BIM) will bring in remarkable efficiency, quality and safety in construction in the coming years. Customised designed materials and smart construction techniques will be able to match the high expectations of clients pertaining to time and cost effectiveness of the project. Tell us about your array of specialisations? We specialise in design and build, turnkey, in residential, commercial, infrastructure projects across India. We have successfully delivered DIL Infopark and JP Infra in Mumbai; Tata Prive in Lonavala; DNR Atmosphere and Mantri Webcity in Bengaluru; and other similar projects. How do you focus on sustainable construction in your projects? Sustainability starts with designing and planning, flows through selection of materials, easy-to-maintenance and low-polluting plant and machineries till appropriate logistic plan and waste management systems (garbage chute, etc.), are in place. In addition, our project control team closely monitors our projects for aspects such as design, planning, execution, quality and safety. In our NCP Lodha project, we are using Recli climbing system, super-customised formwork, advance machineries like luffing cranes, pumps, hoists to achieve steep milestones. What is your emphasis on safety and quality? Before commencing the groundwork for a project, our core project control team brainstorms on project execution plan, chalks out HSE, and QA and QC plans, based on our quality and safety policies to achieve the highest degree of safety and quality. Further, with a continuous endeavor to develop new methodologies, follow best engineering practices, utilise management techniques, we achieve output in the form of improved quality and highest safety in our projects. Tell us the challenges you face in the Indian market? The client´s statutory approvals and skilled manpower are the common recurring challenges across the geography of India. To overcome the later one, we have developed our own fleet across diversified trades, starting from project managers, engineers with downline of supervisors and foremen. What are your growth plans in the next two years? Our turnover now stands at over Rs 480 crore, and we are positive about crossing Rs 750 crore by 2017-18 with a diversified portfolio comprising of multipurpose buildings, infrastructure, public health, and institutional and hospitality sectors. Our planned organic growth will be instrumental to achieve this. (Communication by the management of the company)