Construction Week India July 2017 issue by Itp India

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CONSTRUCTIONWEEK NE WS , AN ALYS I S , PROJ ECT S & B US I N ESS I N T E L L I G E NC E FOR TH E C ONS TR U CTI ON I NDU S TR Y

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Total number of pages 76 VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 11 JULY 2018 • MUMBAI • `50

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• TOP FAÇADE PROJECTS • EXCAVATORS & MOTOR GRADERS

TIME-KEEPER

Having gained the trust of stakeholders for efficient project management, coupled with a distinct method of working has helped bag multi-crore deals, says Anoop Kumar Mittal, CMD, NBCC

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CONTENTS 34

INNOVATIVE FAร ADE PROJECTS We feature 10 outstanding faรงade and window projects that have become landmarks in the city they are in..

EXCAVATORS & MOTOR GRADERS Faced with growing demand, excavator & motor grader makers in India are welcoming the opportunity with more technological interventions and value-additions.

24 TIME-KEEPER

Having gained the trust of stakeholders for efficient PMC, coupled with a distinct method of working has helped bag multi-crore deals, says Dr Anoop Kumar Mittal, CMD, NBCC.

For regular updates and subscriptions log on to

8 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

PLUMBING The Indian plumbing industry is on its way to getting organised and better supporting developers with improved solutions.

PMV INTERVIEW Angelo Noronha, president, APAC & MEA, Alliance Tire Group (ATG), has worked studiously and now is a strong contender in the global market.

EDITOR’S NOTE

CONSTRUCTIONWEEK VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 11 • JULY 2018

Better by Design Jayashree Mendes

Mitalee Kurdekar

volution defines progress. And our mantra at the Construction Week India Awards has been to evolve alongside the industry’s growth. The year 2018 marks our eighth annual awards ceremony, and as has always been our endeavour, this time too, we have something different in mind. Last year’s awards heralded the timely entry of two new categories: Procurement Person of the Year & Project Manager of the Year. Welcomed by the industry with much applause, these categories celebrated the unsung heroes of the construction space. On the other hand, this year, we have come full circle and are starting at the beginning of the construction cycle, where the inception of every project – whether residential or commercial – takes place. That’s right, it’s time to honour the best in design. Architectural Design of the Year aims to celebrate the finest designs, those which have traversed the long journey from drawing board to execution in spectacular fashion, and emerged as a shining model of their time. This award will be open to architects – either those running an independent practice or else those who head the architectural function at a real estate company. There will be an award each for outstanding architectural design in the residential projects space and the commercial projects space, respectively. Projects will be judged based on how well the architectural design demonstrates innovation, efficient planning, clarity of context, environment-friendly features, as well as attention to services and life-cycle costs. Overall, the jury will look at the quality of initial design, its planning and the final execution. We hope that you will support us – as you always have – in our most recent effort, and urge you to send in nominations and/ or encourage your architect friends to do the same. Of course, as you are aware, we are also inviting nominations across 17 other categories. Please visit: www.constructionweekawards.in for more details. Keep the nominations coming!

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Mitalee Kurdekar Editor mitalee.kurdekar@itp.com

Cross Road, Between Sussex and Retiwala Ind. Estate, Byculla (East), Mumbai-400 027, India, India and published at ITP Media (India), Notan Plaza, 3rd floor, 898, Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai - 400050, India EDITOR Jayashree Kini Mendes

WRITE TO THE EDITOR Please address your letters to: The Editor, Construction Week, Notan Plaza, 3rd floor, 898, Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai - 400050, India or email jayashree.mendes@itp.com. Please provide your full name and address, stating clearly if you do not wish us to print them. Alternatively log on to www.ConstructionWeekOnline.in and air your views. The opinions expressed in this section are of particular individuals and are in no way a reflection of the publisher’s views.

10 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

ADVISORY BOARD Our distinguished advisory board has been assembled to help guide Construction Week to become even more representative of its community. Members have been invited from the highest levels of the industry to ensure that the magazine continues on its path of success.

Anuj Puri Chairman, ANAROCK Property Consultants

Prof Dr Anil Sawhney Associate Dean, Director for School of Construction, RICS School of Built Environment

Ramesh Nair CEO & Country Head, JLL India

Jayanand Potdar Chief Operating Officer, Godrej Properties

Karuna Gopal President, Foundation for Futuristic Cities

Lalit Kumar Jain CMD, Kumar Builders Development

Mangesh G Korgaonker Director General, NICMAR

Neeraj Bansal Partner & Head of Real Estate and Construction, KPMG India

Neeraj Jain Deputy Team Leader, Louis Berger Consultants

Neerav Parmar Head Contracts and Procurement, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate

Niranjan Hirnandani Managing Director, Hiranandani Group of Companies

Sarosh Bala Vice-President, Projects, EPC Academy, Reliance Industries

Sunil Mantri Chairman, Mantri Realty

Vikram Goel CEO, Quikr Realty

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NEWS

PROJECTS WORTH RS 20,000 CRORE UNDER IMPLEMENTATION TO BOOST PORTS CAPACITY

s many as 39 projects entailing investment of Rs 20,535 crore are under implementation to augment the capacity of 12 major ports. These projects are part of 112 port capacity expansion projects, involving total investment of Rs 69,636 crore, that have been planned to increase port capacity to 3,500 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to cater to the projected traffic of 2,500 mtpa by 2025. “Out of these 112 port master plan projects, 39 projects at a cost Rs 20,535 crore are under implementation,” a Shipping Ministry official said. As many as 15 projects worth Rs 6,920 crore have already been completed, while 11 projects entailing an investment of Rs 5,485 crore are un-

GOVERNMENT NOD TO RS 1,948 CRORE BRIDGE OVER GANGA The government has approved a proposal for a 6-lane 10km bridge on NH96 at Phaphamau in Allahabad across river Ganga to be built at a cost of Rs 1,948 crore. The decision was taken by the CCEA. The project, expected to be completed by end 2021, will resolve the traffic congestion on the 2-lane Phaphamau bridge. The bridge will be beneficial for the Lucknow/Faizabad bound traffic coming from Madhya Pradesh via NH27 and NH76. There were only 13 bridges on the Ganga between Allahabad to Farakka before May 2014, but additional 20 bridges were planned, of which 5 have been opened and 7 are under construction.

14 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

In addition to the port master plans, the government has also announced setting up six ports.

der tender process. These 112 port capacity expansion projects had been identified for implementation over next 20 years and are expected to add 780

mtpa capacity at major ports. India has 12 major ports, which handle approximately 61% of the country’s total cargo traffic. Buoyed by pick up in demand, cargo traffic at these ports rose by 4.77% to 679.35MT during 2017-18 compared to 648.39MT during 201617. The 12 major ports have capacity of about 1,400MT at present. In addition to the port master plans, the government has also announced setting up six ports. TEFR have been prepared for five locations and is under preparation for Tajpur. DPR is under preparation for Port of Vadhavan, Enayam and Paradip Outer Harbour Project. Earlier the Cabinet has given inprinciple approval for development of a transshipment port at Enayam.

India, WB sign $500 million loan pact for rural roads

ndia signed a $500 million (Rs 3,371 crore) loan pact with World Bank to provide additional financing for PMGSY rural road projects. The loan has a 3-year grace period, and a maturity of 10 years, the finance ministry said in a release. It will provide additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project “which will build 7,000 km of climate resilient roads, out of which 3,500 km will be constructed using green technologies”, the release said. The World Bank has supported PMGSY since its inception in 2004. So far it has invested over $1.8 billion in loans and credits mostly in the economically weaker and hill states across North India—Bihar, Himachal Pradesh,

Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. It has built and improved about 35,000 km of rural roads and benefited about eight million people with access to all-weather roads. The release further said that adequate maintenance of the existing 4.6 million km of road network is emerging as a major challenge. Many parts of the existing road network are either vulnerable to or have suffered damage from climate induced events. “To support the rural economy and communities and households that depend on rural livelihoods, it will be critical to ensure that infrastructure is built and maintained to withstand climatic changes,” said Junaid Ahmad, World Bank country director in India.

NEWS

L&T BAGS THREE LARGE CONTRACTS FROM NUMEROUS CLIENTS

&T’s subsidiary L&T Construction has won an order worth Rs 1,425 crore in the domestic market. The company has secured an order from a private client for the construction of eight lane VadodaraKim Expressway, package I (part of Vadodara Mumbai Expressway) in Gujarat. The project involves the construction of 23km of eight-lane rigid pavement carriageway, connecting road, flyovers, interchanges, rail over bridges and vehicular/pedestrian/cattle underpasses. In another report, L&T Construction has won orders worth Rs 4,033 crore in the domestic market. It has secured an order from a government client for the design and construction of 1,125 residential towers in Visakhapatnam, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh. It has won another order from a cement manufacturer for the construction of plants in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on design and build model. It has bagged another turnkey order from a government client in

Among the orders bagged is also for construction of two cement plants.

Patna to establish a cancer institute along with the supply, installation and commissioning of medical equipment. L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering in consortium with TechnipFMC has bagged two orders from Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan for two fertiliser plants. LTHE’s scope of work, worth in excess of Rs 3,800 crore, consists of two 2,200tpd ammonia plants. Both the projects shall be executed concurrently.

EMBASSY LINES UP RS. 250 CRORE FOR METRO STATION AND FLYOVER

he Embassy Group has committed to fund a metro station in the city. The group signed an agreement with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation that it will fund the Kadubeesanahalli station, which will be part of the 17km KR Puram-Central Silk Board line. The developer also promised to fund a flyover to allow easy flow of traffic in and out of the Embassy Manyata Business Park at Nagawara. The group has pledged Rs 250 crore for the two projects. This is in tune with the innovative financing mechanism that the BMRCL is trying to promote with the private sector. In February, global technology major Intel signed a deal to invest Rs 100 crore for the construction of the Bellandur metro station. While the state and union governments

16 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

IN SHORT

provide 10% each to fund metro projects, the BMRCL hopes to raise the remaining fund through borrowing and innovative financing mechanisms. The project, which is scheduled be ready along with the 72km Namma Metro Phase II, was delayed due to poor response from private companies. The BMRCL is expected to award the contract for civil work in a month. Embassy Group chairman Jitu Virwani said that the Kadubeesanahalli station — Embassy TechVillage metro station — will be located at the entrance to “our established Business Park serving over 1 lakh corporate occupiers and 43 companies operating within the park.” The project is in tune with the innovative financing mechanism that the BMRCL is trying to promote with the private sector.

CC, in JV with MAX Group, a construction company in Bangladesh, has been awarded Rs 737 crore contract by Russia’s state nuclear company, JSC Atomstroyexport, for civil works of turbine island for Unit 1 of Rooppur nuclear power plant. The Rooppur plant will be built with Russian technology and is equipped with two VVER reactors of 1,200MW each. Arjun Dhawan, director & Group CEO, HCC said, “HCC has become the first Indian company to participate in the international civil nuclear market.” Recently, India signed an agreement with Bangladesh for civil nuclear cooperation, under which India has extended expertise and project support for Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant. India not being a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) cannot participate directly in the construction of atomic power reactors. But Indian companies can be involved in construction and installation works and in the supply of equipment of non-critical category. HCC has constructed 65% of the country’s installed nuclear power capacity; 15 out of 24 nuclear reactors in India are built by HCC.

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COMMENT

FUTURE SAFE

Digitalisation of land records must be taken up seriously if the industry wants to play transparent, says Ravindra Pai.

The author MD, Century Real Estate.

22 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

igitalisation is transforming the real estate in all aspects—from construction to asset management, marketing to sales, as well as smart homes and professional environment. An IBEF report says that the Indian real estate market is expected to touch $180 billion by 2020. The housing sector alone contributes 5-6% to the country's GDP. To this effect, technology in Indian real estate is accelerating and will accentuate the estimated growth rate in the years to come. Since land is a precious commodity in real estate accounting for a major component of any transaction, it is worthwhile to note that until recently, only few countries boasted of an electronic public register for real estate. India is leapfrogging in this space but much needs to be done. Earlier, most land records in India were through village maps marking boundaries and/or paper records that included names of occupants. Due to poor maintenance of land records, there were litigations and scams. One challenge was the land ownership issue. Hence, making land records available to all became the objectives of the government around late 80s. In this vein, the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) was launched in 2008. The objective was to reduce the scope of disputes, and improve transparency. Most importantly it would reduce construction timelines and overall cost for the developer, the benefits of which can be transferred to consumers. Karnataka was the first state to computerise land records under the “Bhoomi Project” followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In a move to protect property owners' rights, the Karnataka government also introduced property cards authenticating the ownership details, area and loca-

tion of each property apart from mapping it. An online or digital record department could be established for the betterment of online records maintenance. This could be outsourced to third parties. States can also consult and take feedback from developers on the main topics of sourcing, tracking, executing various land records. We have seen many structural changes happening in the country. This has and will necessitate the development of infrastructure by facilitating litigation-free land for commercial and residential use. Digitisation of land and property is also a boost to the Digital India vision. At regular intervals, a fresh survey of every parcel of land to update records will help in purchasing, transferring and selling land, giving deeds, and easing all kinds of land transactions at the press of a button. This will also help in identifying and avoiding any confusion about which land has been earmarked as government land through online registration. Transparency brought through digitisation will make it difficult to evade property tax. Planning of industrialisation/smart cities will become easier. The government’s initiation towards digitisation will not only speed up the process of land acquisition but will also help in building up of local revenues through property tax billing and collection and also by providing conclusive titles to owners. To an extent, RERA has taken up the initiative of being transparent. Computerisation of land records is beneficial for buyers to check if the land is under litigation. The stakeholders involved in real estate have realised that digitisation will shape the real estate business in the years to come — from marketing and promotion to complicated real estate transactions.

PHOTOGRAPH: RAJESH PRASAD

COVER STORY

24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

COVER STORY

CLOSING THE GAP

Having gained the trust of stakeholders for efficient PMC, coupled with a distinct method of working has helped bag multi-crore deals, says Dr Anoop Kumar Mittal, CMD, NBCC. BY JAYASHREE KINI MENDES

ew would have guessed that a central public dent that the company should register a consistent CAGR sector enterprise bestowed with a Mini-Navratgrowth of 30-40%. He is banking on completing the highna status would go on to compete with large value projects, besides taking forward its redevelopment established private construction and infrastrucmodel, while continuing its contribution to the infrastructure ture companies. Not only compete, but also sucdevelopment of the country. cessfully diversify its portfolio, secure business in overseas The consistent growth rate can also be attributed to the markets and partner strongly in the flagship humble disposition of the company. There are programmes of the central government. Since no projects that the company does not take establishment in 1960, this PSU has up. Today, Mittal strongly believes that there is grown strongly and steadily and no single entity in the country that is as multitoday has an order book that faceted as NBCC. The lynchpin of its success crore order book in hand. stands at Rs 80,000 crore, is to maintain an overflowing order book and larger than any construccontinue with a risk-free business model. Its tion or infrastructure company! strong track record of timely projects completion is makNotwithstanding the workload, Dr ing it the frontrunner to take over stalled projects. MaintainAnoop Kumar Mittal, chairing transparency in its bidding process has only added to it man & managing director, trustworthiness. The firm ensures that there is little human NBCC, appears confiintervention between its team and bidders, and bidding and

80,000

COVER STORY

payments too are made online. Although mainly known for executing works as PMC, NBCC has also looked outside its portfolio and today has a strong base in real estate and EPC and created several subsidiaries while marching towards a refulgent future. MITTAL MANAGEMENT As a public sector, NBCC is assured of government projects on a nomination basis with fixed margins. And considering that the government is looking developing vacant land to promote affordable housing and redeveloping dilapidated properties, Mittal says, “Currently, we are preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for affordable housing across the country. Overall, we are working on five to seven land parcels of 50 to 100 acres each. By the end of this year, we expect to start working on projects in NCR, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Together they will offer a mix of affordable houses, higher category homes and commercial space.” Besides this, NBCC has its own land parcels of more than 200 acres. “These were bought at market rates for commercial purposes. Though we have plans, they can only be executed based on market requirements and take us to higher profitability. Work is underway in Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, and Kolkata, and we hope to complete those by the end of the year. There are 32 land parcels and, hopefully, we should look at raking in revenue within the next four to five years,” he adds.

Over the last few months alone, NBCC has bagged several prestigious large projects to construct convention centres in 10 African countries as part of the Indian government’s Rs 2,500 crore project. It is executing redevelopment of nine railway stations in Gomti Nagar, Charbagh, Tirupati, Goa, and Pondicherry. Besides, there are 10 big-size redevelopment projects of Rs₹40,000-50,000 crore. Pocketing projects in the overseas market was a feather in the cap for the company. He says, “There are 2-3 ways of bagging overseas projects. One is to participate in global tenders for PMC, which is our core business. In the 80s, we would also bid as an EPC, and that is a second method. The third, and one that helps us, is to participate in projects being constructed

Dr Ambedkar International Centre at Janpath.

A aerial view of the Charbagh Station. NBCC was entrusted withthe redevelopment of several railway stations.

26 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

COVER STORY

The Pragati Maidan Complex is set to get a new face with its upcoming redevelopment into a world-class state-of-the-art Integrated Exhibition-cumConvention Centre (IECC).

through a grant given by the Indian government or extending a Line of Credit (LoC) to other countries. Our focus is to bag those projects being funded by the government of India. That is how we have ventured into Maldives, Mauritius, South Africa, etc. More often, bilateral relations compel the government to give grants and help the development there. This helps us bag projects in those countries.” The myriad projects contracts have also helped the team at NBCC hone their skills. Importantly, its proven track record at managing large projects has made it the government’s agency of choice for outsourcing projects. NBCC already has offices in Oman, Maldives, Turkey, Mauritius and Botswana. It has executed many diverse projects over the past 37 years in Mauritius, Nepal, Maldives, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, and Turkey and Botswana. Considering that PMC is NBCC’s strongest point, Mittal would like to continue with projects that offer PMC than real estate or EPC. Not that the company is averse to taking up such projects. According to him, “Contract or project management calls for certain skills. At the end of the project, effective project management skills can help turn a project around and ensure its timely completion and lasting effect. We offer services from inception to completion. Efficiency in management is needed to gain a higher level in competitiveness. We have achieved that.” Little surprise that PMC and redevelopment contributes 87% to the revenue, while EPC and real estate bring in the remaining 13%. In terms of road projects, Mittal says that NBCC sticks to PMC similar to what it does with other projects. It has

28 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

The new headquarters of Central Information Commission was constructed by NBCC and inaugurated by the PM.

bagged the PMC worth Rs 380 crore from the Odisha government for executing 168 roads and six bridges. Similarly, he affirms that its real estate portfolio will be confined to developing its own land parcels and “it will not purchase any more land as it sees little opportunity in real estate”. However, recently, the company announced that it plans to invest Rs 500 crore to acquire majority stake in two loss-making PSUs and considering that they are in the construction business, these acquisitions are quite strategic in nature. Knowing well that analysts are keenly tracking the company’s growth, NBCC is aware that not only does the company need to bag multiple projects, but also be distinct in the marketplace. There is a conscientious technique to working methodically. When a contract is awarded, Mittal ensures

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COVER STORY

that his team gets the DPR ready, prepares the financial plan and awards the tender to contractors of repute such as Shapoorji Pallonji, Larsen & Toubro, Nagarjuna Constructions, Ahluwalia Contracts, Tata Projects, among others. Completion dates are taken seriously and any delays are due to late permissions or force majeure. Quality of construction, materials, technology, are all factors that NBCC looks into when it takes on a project. Overall, in the last few decades, most government projects have seen consistent delays, with unreliable contractors not delivering projects on time, excelling in bad governance, thus resulting in poor quality projects. What has also been irksome is that most often money given to a particular project has often found its way elsewhere thus leading to project delays of 2-3 years or more. Mittal says that the emergence of NBCC has changed all that. TO THE BRAINY, THE SPOILS At a time when remuneration and profit is the ultimate (if not sole) motive of contractors and others involved in projects, Mittal’s statement comes as a surprise. “Most often, private players don’t undertake projects if the margins are less than

25%. We have no such interest. There’s little ambition to make profit, and that helps us. We charge a slab of 8-10% and if there is any sale component, then we take 1.5-2% as market charges,” he adds. The cost-plus-margins model has stayed with NBCC for a long time now. Over the years, the new projects are selfrevenue generation models since the government has been finding it difficult to budget all the projects. The model has now become popular and NBCC is, perhaps, the only company in the public sector who does this kind of work. The shrewd CMD has also decided that as long as projects continue to flow in, the company will retain its margins share and might increase margins a couple of years down the line. For a PSU, NBCC does adopt some modern technologies for construction. In the last six months, it has begun using structural steel and composite structures. Considering the pollution level in Delhi, where it is executing a majority of projects, the company prefers to build steel structures. “Dry construction is our motive, and in some places we prefer pre-fabricated or pre-cast technology. For WTC, we are using pre-stress technology. Slipform, sheer wall construction, are other methods that we deploy,” adds Mittal.

The redevelopment of GPRA colony in Netaji Nagar is the most powerful expression of transforming and greening of the national capital.

30 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

COVER STORY

The government has engaged NBCC as the implementing and marketing agency for redevelopment of three colonies - Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar. This is an aerial view of Nauroji Nagar.

STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS Mittal does not believe in resting on his laurels. There’s a continuous drive to bite at more projects, which to others may seem, more than he can chew. In his words, “I am hopeful of accruing orders from all the states. Recently, we have got an order from the Assam government which is typically different as far as infrastructure is concerned. We have signed an agreement with Assam government to construct the World Trade Centre, an iconic building, at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. After Assam, I am hopeful to bag substantial orders from Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. We are also overseeing the development of WTC at Nauroji Nagar in the national capital, which is being built on approximately 60 lakh sq-ft of built-up area, and will house 12 commercial towers in a state-of-the-art commercial hub spread across 25 acres. It will have all the modern facilities, an aesthetically-designed façade and a pleasing landscape.” NBCC has a lot of activities going on in Delhi NCR. There is the redevelopment of Kidwai Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, and the ambitious project redevelopment of Pragati Maidan scheduled to be completed next year. We are also constructing South Delhi Municipal Corporation headquarters, another signature tower. The state-owned PMC firm is also planning to build more than one lakh affordable homes on its own land parcels, and on plots owned by the government and PSUs. “We are looking to build these homes over the next five years to support the government’s objective of Housing for All by 2022. This

32 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

would entail a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, which will be shared between all the stakeholders. The housing projects would offer residential apartments with prices starting from Rs 10 lakh going up to Rs 50-60 lakh depending on the location of the project. We hope to make a profit margin of around 8-10% through these projects,” adds Mittal. Its own land parcels are spread across the country in cities such as Alwar, Jaipur, Faridabad, Kochi, Patna, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Coimbatore that would be utilised to build affordable houses apart from land allotted by the government. An edge that NBCC has is that it was made the land management agency for sick government companies like HMT, Hindustan Photo Films and ITI. Its efficient methods has led to HMT Watches offering NBCC a land parcel of 30 acre in Nainital for affordable housing. In Mumbai’s Wadala, NBCC is soon expected to start work on a 40-acre land parcel of the Finance Ministry to develop housing and office space. There will be a total of 2,000 houses of which, 30% will be for general public. Besides this, the firm continues to scout for work using land of sick PSUs, government departments and Railways for housing. Mittal is happy that it has also gained the AIIMS project in Himachal Pradesh for planning, designing and construction worth Rs 1,138 crore. Its experience in building health infrastructure only added this to its kitty. Mittal has recently been granted a one year extension in tenure. He ends the interview with a promise. “I hope to complete all the projects that have a deadline of Q1 2019.” Amen to that.

PIC COURTESY: GLASS WALL SYSTEMS

FAÇADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

BUILDING LANDMARKS

Façade contractors are a unique breed. The kind of engineering they apply to a building to create architectural marvels is nothing short of a miracle. We feature 10 outstanding façade and window projects that have become indicators in the city they are in. BY JAYASHREE KINI MENDES

ovelty in buildings are becoming the norm of the day. And the first thing that is obvious in buildings is the façade. This can be applied mainly to commercial buildings (not that residential buildings don’t have façades) because façades account for 15-20% of construction costs. Façades can be constructed around windows, doors, glass, curtainwall and cladding. All over the world, new building projects are becoming ever-more inventive, innovative and unique. This means façade access solutions need to match today’s most imagi-

34 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

native architecture in order to provide truly bespoke solutions to a wide range of particular architectural challenges. Façades are also available with textured, architectural weave with curved lines intersecting, turning vertically and narrowing as they reach up the building. The materials are a complex mix of glass curtainwall panels, glass-fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) and perforated aluminium panels. There are also LED lights embedded into the façade. This issue looks at some of the fascinating façade projects that are landmarks in their own way in the respective city they are in.

FAĂ&#x2021;ADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

INDIABULLS SKY

CONTRACTOR: GLASS WALL SYSTEMS CLIENT: INDIABULLS The Sky Tower is a high-rise in South Mumbai with an entrance atrium covered with state-of-theart canopy. The entrance has high glazing supported off spider bolted fittings & tension rod system. The foyer of the building is glazed with clear vision to achieve the transparency and at night reflect the lavish interiors with tall round cladded tall columns. The 10m entrance glazing is supported by tension rod system with customised design trusses along with mannet fitted doors at foyer. The driveway canopy is supported from two elliptical cladded columns giving an illusion of floating cloud. The tower is glazed with unitised system incorporating an automated motorised parallax window within. The unitised system used is a tested system to 2.75K.P.A. To reduce the glare, the sun cutter was designed at a calculated height on the glazing. The faced glass is laminated DGU for thermal control and acoustics. The parallax window are integrated with technology of wind sensors along with motorisation. On windy days, the wind sensors come in action and shut windows automatically. Another feature is 15m tall crown at the top and is seen from miles. The crown was built with 100 tonnes of steel which posed a challenge in site logistics. Despite this, Glass Wall Systems completed the project ahead of the schedule in record time.

36 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

Most preferred brand in Commercial Facade 2018 by Economic Times

State of the Art factory at Bengaluru • • • •

Spread across in ten countries Professional project management team Qualified Designers Ten ongoing prestigious projects in India & Abroad Facade Design - Engineering- Innovation HONG KONG • THAILAND • INDONESIA • SRI LANKA • EAST AFRICA • PHILIPPINE • USA • INDIA KASKAL FACADE PVT. LTD ( A subsidiary of KK Holding) 8th Floor, Hari Om IT Park, 5 Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, Mira Road (E), Thane - 401107

http://kkholding.org

+91 022 6012 7555

dr@kkholding.org

FAÇADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

ARTESIA

CONTRACTOR: GLASS WALL SYSTEMS CLIENT: K RAHEJA CORP Unitised curtain walling maximises the benefits of building offsite and allows modern methods of construction to be applied to the external envelope. Unitised façades consist of prefabricated units, which are typically the width of a glazing bay and one or two storeys high. The panels are fully glazed and sealed offsite, with gaskets and glazing beads pre-installed in factory-controlled conditions. The complete units are moved for installation onto pre-prepared fixings to either steel or concrete frames. It can be used for technically challenging projects, as well as fast track schemes, new build and refurbishment, and new designs can be developed for more complex and bespoke façades. Unitised façades do not dictate uniformity. For a successful project, it is critical that a building is designed around the façade and not vice versa. The façade specialist should be involved at the early stage to design the building structure that will best accommodate the unitised façade.

SKILL TO EXECUTE CHALLENGING PROJECTS INCOMPARABLE 38 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

WESTIN KOLKATA

CONTRACTOR: GLASS WALL SYSTEMS CLIENT: SHRISTI CORP

Unitised façades offer a number of design options. They can integrate many elements, such as ACP panels, aluminium solid sheet panels, etc., which gives a better method of doing installation and also a better solution for new material to be integrated in the same system. When we see this integration being done in one of our projects, it clearly shows a clean façade and good quality of installation work. This is all possible because of unitised glazing system, which gives all the support to other materials. All line and levels are maintained properly without any issues related to tolerance in civil structure. You can integrate many more other elements in the same system because of its features.

project : wipro it-sez client : wipro limited

FAÇADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

GREENFIELDS

FAÇADE MATERIAL: FUNDERMAX CLIENT: SEASONS GROUP Mumbai is always open to fresh architectural ideas. ZZ Architects suggested a new approach for high-rises. The architect’s idea was to use ample sunlight and earthy elements to develop a warm and naturebased personality with all the trappings of modern day luxuries. The architect’s vision was a play of light and shade, embellished with natural elements like wood, marble and vertical gardens. The challenge was integrating these elements, within budget and deadlines. For the façade, the architect chose MAX EXTERIOR 0922 Amazon from FunderMax. It fulfilled all the specifications required of the façade. Like the earthy wood finish, robustness to withstand high temperatures and heavy rain and, was easy to install. The Greenfields residential complex reflects close-to-nature character with ample light, airy spaces, greenery and earthy colors. For FunderMax, Greenfields is one of the largest deployments of its façade panels covering a vast swathe of 3,500m2.

MANGO TREE HOUSE SYSTEMS SUPPLIER: SCHÜCO INDIA CLIENT: PRIVATE RESIDENCE

The Mango Tree House, is a private residence in Bhopal, India. As the name suggests, this house is built around several large 50-year-old mango trees. The house consists of two major blocks connected through passages. One accommodates private areas such as the living room, bedrooms, kitchen and dining, while the other accommodates formal seating, guest room, studio, gym and swimming pool. The house plan has been conceived as a solid wall envelope from outside giving privacy to the house. Inside this envelope, all the spaces are designed as pavilions facing trees, where inside becomes outside and vice-versa. Schüco Aluminium Sliding Systems ASS 50.NI offers a narrow profile face width and optimised for large glass areas, which make walls transparent to enclose spaces, without compromising on the experience of being under the trees. Tall openings, flat ceilings and continu-

unmatchABLE

Scale

That creates the skyline of the city 40 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

ous floor levels further blurs the boundaries of inside and outside. Various passages, staircases and terraces at different floor levels create new vistas and interesting movements around the mango trees.

project : Indiabulls BLU client : indiabulls real estate

FAÇADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

OMKAR 1973

CONTRACTORS: ALUPLEX, ASHBEE CLIENT: OMKAR REALTORS & DEVELOPERS Resident Architect DSP Design Associates was part of Omkar 1973—an iconic residential skyscraper that stands tall over three basements and 14 parking level podiums. All the three towers are crowned with drum profile penthouses. The façade design demanded an extreme level of due diligence and precision keeping in mind the wind pressure and high heights, curvatures, interfacing elements and aerodynamic shape of the towers. Glass façades were planned all around the buildings with minimal obstruction to attain spectacular views of the city and the sea. Material choices included low-e glass for unitised full height panels, safety sentry glass for straight handrails, fire rated ACP, stainless steel anchors, microwave cured gaskets with heat soaking done for all tempered glasses as additional safety feature. The full height vision glass is shaded from the sun via the protruding balconies all around the towers. The project has been well executed through the support of consultants and contractors like Dubai-based Inhabit Façade, Aluplex and Ashbee.

ALFA TOWER

CONTRACTOR: KK HOLDING CLIENT: ALFA MART KK Holding executed a façade in Jakarta, Indonesia, for a retail business client, Alfa Mart, having more than 5,000 marts in Indonesian itself. PTI is one of the prominent architects in Jakarta who came up with the idea of LED fins incorporated in the façade for the twin high-rise towers giving a resemblance of barcode which is symbolic for the retail business. Two technical parameters of this 140m building are the 76 giant panels—the size of each panel is 1350x5575mm, and it is free standing. Considering the wind speed of 1.75kpa KK Holding executed this project flawlessly. The building has wing panels, totalling 248 panels of 2100x4200 mm, which juts out. The task was an onerous one where one had to fix a panel of dead load of 250kg in 158m height against gravity where the potential gradient varies in every metre. A building of 150m height with this kind of feature was a challenge for KK Holding. The second building of 160m is a carved building with 5200 LED fins each with a size of 450x80x4200m. There were several challenges in conceptualising the design and execution. Our design team with Paul Adam Façade Consultant and project team under the leadership of Kapil Shukla, MD & CEO, KK Holding, executed the entire project. The project was completed before the schedule date.

42 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

FAÇADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

GODREJ BKC

FAÇADE CONTRACTOR: ALUFIT CLIENT: GODREJ PROPERTIES The façade is one of the most critical elements of a well-engineered Grade A office asset and determines the external expression of its architectural intent. Apart from aesthetics, climatic response and sustainability play a critical role in treatment, material selection and engineering. The design of Godrej BKC pushes the boundaries of façade engineering to a new level especially for delivery in the Indian context. Designed and engineered by New York-based SOM, the external envelope performs well on daylighting, solar shading, minimising heat gain and creating a distinct aesthetic. SOM brought this through collaboration with GPL Design Studio. The delivery involved an intense design and engineering delivered by contractor Alufit. The process involves design and engineering through a collaborative engagement to achieve the final product. The façade, value engineered from tender stage till contractor’s shop drawings are evaluated using both a full-scale visual mockup as well as performance tests.

RMZ ECO WORLD

FAÇADE DESIGN & INSTALLATION: ALUFIT CLIENT: RMZ CORP RMZ Eco World is a 7.5 million sq-ft LEED Gold certified project developed by RMZ Corp and designed by DP architects Singapore as a natural and optimal energy footprint with richly landscaped central sculptures and extensive water features. The unique aspect of this project is the extensive use of granite and glass; over 30,000m2 of granite with 50,000m2 of glass have been installed in a unitised curtain wall at a height of 50m using Advanced Curtain wall Technology (ACT). The Alufit team was trained in Germany as well as were imparted knowledge at the plant on the use of special undercut anchors which resulted in its successful execution. The use of undercut anchors provides fool-proof granite installation with no possibilities of granite fallouts unlike conventional fixing of dowel pins and MS brackets which has its limitations.

exceptional

Speed

to deliver promises

44 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

project : wells fargo client : embassy group

FAÇADES & WINDOWS PROJECTS

TCS SEZ IT PARK PROJECT

FAÇADE DESIGN: MEINHARDT FAÇADE TECHNOLOGY CLIENT: TCS ADIBATLA TCS Adibatla (SEZ), a techno park in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, project has a built-up area of 4.12 million sq-ft which is extended over an area of 75 acres of land to create a capacity of approximately 25,000 plus employment. The project needed to be constructed in two phases that changed the landmark of the adjacent areas. The infrastructure of this project is divided into two building phases and both phases have been completed. Meinhardt Façade Technology designed the building’s entire façade design with double skin with planer catwalk for maintenance between two skins and the catwalk acts as a passive sun shade through ventilated gap between two envelopes (Unitised façade system and ventilated dual tone finish perforated screen). The façade design arises as part of the architect building massing to achieve the visual richness and the building performs in keepign with environmental norms and offers energy saving and comfort activity within. The design reflects the comfort level of

the working environment. It’s a passive shading ventilated façade design of blind free architectural concept and its dense occupation reflects the high value comfort working environment and the double skin ventilated façade cuts glare, radiated and direct heat, with required reflectivity (internally and externally) and visible light transmittance design.

CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018 45

I nt hef a c a deI ndus t r y , Gl a s sWa l l S y s t ems&i t ’ st ea m ma k est hedi ffer enc e . T hedi ffer enc ei st hedi s c i pl i neda ppr oa c ht oourwor k&ourper f or ma nc e t ha tdel i v erhi ghqua l i t ypr oj ec t sf orourc us t omer snoma t t ert hes i z e , c ompl e x i t yordi ffic ul t y .

EXCAVATORS & MOTOR GRADERS

DIGGING DEEPER Faced with growing demand, excavator & motor grader makers in India are welcoming the opportunity with more technological interventions and value-additions. BY MITALEE KURDEKAR

s per recent reports, the construction sector in India is slated for a compounded annual growth rate of double digit figures during the five years leading up to 2020. Considering the huge focus on and growth already being witnessed within the infrastructure space in the country, there is an ever-increasing demand for construction equipment, more so for earthmoving construction equipment. In fact, infrastructure-led demand and subsequent spending seems to be the key driver for Earthmoving and Construction Equipment (ECE) market growth. The development of new roads, highways and tunnels – often carried out in hilly terrains – means the activities of excavation, levelling and processing of materials for road-laying are going to require a lot of support from ECE OEMs to fast track these projects, while ensuring quality work in safe working conditions, managed by a trained workforce.

48 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

Of course, the evolution of the ECE market in India has been tremendous during the last 50-55 years, starting with public sector enterprise in the form of Bharat Earthmovers Ltd, primarily for defence requirements in adverse terrains. The Indian market has now shed its dependence – of the past many years – on imports of construction equipment, with the entry of many global majors, who have set up local manufacturing facilities, often through tie-ups, collaborations and joint ventures. This is going a long way in making these otherwise expensive equipment more affordable to Indian customers. Within this space, the other obvious trend is regarding the growth of the excavator & motor grader equipment segment, especially owing to the nature of the huge projects that are underway or in the pipeline, which require such activities to be undertaken and given that such equipment brings a considerable value to its users.

EXCAVATORS & MOTOR GRADERS

PATH TO GROWTH Naturally, OEMs operating in the ECE market in India are quite bullish about the growth prospects within the construction sector, and consequently those for the ECE segment. Dimitrov Krishnan, VP and head, Volvo CE India, says, “The government continues to place priority on building roads and bridges —allocating budgets to build 35,000kms of road under phase one of the Bharatmala project, along with allocations for urban rail and airport expansion projects. The drive to improve infrastructure will unquestionably facilitate further growth in the economy and the construction equipment industry.” On the other hand, VG Sakthikumar, MD, Schwing Stetter Sales and Services, speaks emphatically about growth rates

for their products being on the rise. “The motor grader industry is booming as a result of the Government of India’s recent focus towards infrastructure development. This is mainly due to the growing number of road, rail, airport and rural road projects being awarded. Other than these, rural irrigation plans, and road-connectivity projects, will also be key factors for a boom in the earthmoving industry. We expect at least 20% growth year on year for the next five years,” he explains. Of course, such figures are hardly a surprise in the current context of things, given that the importance of these products in these times is hard to ignore. Manish Mathur, chief general manager (marketing & product support), Action Construction Equipment (ACE), echoes this sentiment, when he suggests, “A motor grader acts as a very important

WITH THE TIME AND

RURAL IRRIGATION

LABOUR SAVINGS

PLANS AND ROAD-

CARETRACK OFFERS,

CONNECTIVITY

CUSTOMERS SAY THEY

PROJECTS WILL ALSO

VIEW IT AS AN INVESTMENT.

BE KEY FACTORS FOR A BOOM.

DIMITROV KRISHNAN

VG SAKTHIKUMAR

In terms of fleet management systems, Schwing Stetter is working on introducing a dedicated server for the Indian market.

50 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

EXCAVATORS & MOTOR GRADERS

New products such as the JCB 305LC have seen a good response.

WE HAVE INTRODUCED

WITH THE

EXCAVATOR PRODUCTS

GOVERNMENT’S VISION

IN LARGER CATEGORIES

OF MAKING 41KMS OF

IN ORDER TO CAPTURE

ROADS PER DAY, WE

MORE PARTS OF THE MARKET.

ANTICIPATE A HUGE DEMAND.

JASMEET SINGH

MANISH MATHUR

machine in the automation of the road construction business. With the Government’s vision of making 41kms of roads per day, resulting in a major boom in road projects and the infrastructure industry, we anticipate a huge demand for motor graders in the coming future.”

Aneja, brand leader, CASE India, states, “The government is intensely focused on developing world-class infrastructure, backed by its ability to facilitate quick implementation of projects, financing and simplification of procedures for project awards and clearances. Prestigious projects like Sagarmala, Bharatmala, national highway projects and rural road flagship schemes are a result of the same.” When it comes to type of products required for the job, Jasmeet Singh, head - corporate communications and corporate relations, JCB India, points out, “The project size actually determines the mix of products which are going to be deployed at the site. And the size, coupled with the fact

THE VALUE OF THINGS Most infrastructure projects in India, even in the public sector, are now being pursued with tight timelines and a lot of vigour, much unlike projects in previous years. This has changed the business requirements for ECE products in terms of productivity, safety, quality and life cycle cost management. As Ajay

52 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

In order to assist customers, SDLG has seasonal promotions that offer reduced equated monthly instalments.

CONTRACTORS WILL WANT MACHINES THAT ARE NOT TOO COMPLICATED TO USE AND QUICK TO DEPLOY. SURAT MEHTA that the project has to be completed in a time-bound manner, is now making excavators very popular.” Agreeing with his counterparts within the industry, Surat Mehta, head, SDLG in India, says, “With the pressure of tight project deadlines, contractors will want machines that are not too complicated to use and quick to deploy. At the same time, we know that customers, while cost-conscious, demand reliability so that they can keep projects on track.” Singh has an interesting take on creating value for JCB’s customers and professes, “We have introduced excavator products in larger categories, ranging from 22 tonne to 38 tonne in capacity, in order to capture more parts of the market, and we have seen a good response. We have also changed our approach from products to solutions. Thus, we are not selling just products anymore, instead we are selling the entire solution, which means you can have a product along with a product support package as well as a warranty package.” Krishnan feels the need to improve the excavator cycle time, which includes digging, swinging loaded, unloading and swinging empty. He says, “The faster the cycle can be finished, the higher the productivity for the machine. The combination of a powerful engine, compatible hydraulics and precise controls in an exceptionally well-balanced machine makes Volvo’s EC200D capable of lifting heavier

54 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

loads, which translates into higher productivity.” Mathur suggests, “We have come up with technically advanced products. Motor graders with enriched features like high-power engines; a centralised lubrication system; and an ergonomically designed, AC cabin, gives the customer the added benefit of better productivity and ensures longer life of the product.” TOPPED WITH TELEMATICS Technological advances are required for increasing productivity, reducing downtime and managing the fleet in a Cloudbased environment. Remotely managing a fleet has become an important value-added proposition for most OEMs, and their customers are welcoming the addition of such features. Sakthikumar says, “When it comes to fleet management systems, Schwing Stetter is working on introducing a dedicated server for the Indian market.” In the case of Volvo CE, Krishnan explains, “We offer CareTrack, a telematics system that gives equipment owners access to a wide range of machine monitoring information that can help save time and money. The system generates a wide range of reports with data on aspects such as fuel consumption, operational hours, geographical location and more. With CareTrack, customers can monitor load efficiency, number of cycles, overload percentages, and identify operator training needs. With the time and labour savings CareTrack offers, customers say they view it as an investment rather than extra cost.” Explaining a similar system available with JCB, Singh explains, “We are integrating digital technology into our products. We have developed an advance telematics technology, where our machines talk to a second server and the sever sends out messages to the owners, to the operators, and to us.” Similarly, CASE’s R&D team is constantly looking to develop clever innovations to make equipment more fuel-efficient for reducing emissions on the environment. “The company has introduced the Eagle Eye Telematic System, a real-time vehicle tracking and communication based on GPS technology that helps deliver better value for money,” offers Aneja.

EXCAVATORS & MOTOR GRADERS

CASE’s R&D team is constantly looking to develop clever innovations to make equipment more fuel-efficient.

THE COMPANY HAS INTRODUCED THE EAGLE EYE TELEMATIC SYSTEM THAT HELPS DELIVER BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY. AJAY ANEJA CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME Despite all the advances being made, one of the issues that has plagued this industry is how to convince costconscious Indian customers when it comes to appreciating the value offered by modern ECE products. While the cost of technology makes the products expensive, the value they bring is equally huge. Even as some consumers are beginning to realise this, others are still wary of the high-cost of ECE products. OEMs need to put in more efforts in raising awareness, so as to improve understanding regarding placing emphasis on the acquisition cost versus a life cycle cost approach, thus helping the customer in decision-making. At the same time, Singh suggests that the products on offer in India possess the latest technology available globally, as the technology is now highly discernible to everyone. Singh says, “Customers today travel the world, seek educa-

56 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

tion and see what is available in other parts of the world and, hence, these customers demand similar technology in India. Therefore, what you see in India is pretty much at par with what you see in the rest of the world.” Mathur states, “We take regular feedback from customers with respect to the productivity & performance of our products and try to inculcate the positives in our products through our DSIR-approved R&D department.” Implementation of innovative financing models is certainly yet another challenge for industry OEMs. The cost of ECE products mean that both vendors and customers in India have to resort to bank-supported aid or other financing models to make the acquisition cost palatable. In this context, there are other options like rentals, leasing, and buying used equipment at an affordable price as well. But the fragmentation and underdevelopment of such segments of the market in India is an issue. These segments account for 7-8% of the total market in India, as compared to 75-80% in developed countries like Japan and the US. Even in China, the figure is as high as 35%. Therefore, the Indian customer is left to the mercy of self-funding for their acquisitions. Singh confesses, “For standard models like backhoe loaders, the rental option is a possibility, but when one moves higher up the value chain to excavators, the tendency is for the buyer to own the product, looking at the product life cycle approach and also because there are not many renting/ leasing companies who could be owning these products in sufficient volumes.” Explaining how they support their customer base, Sakthikumar says, “At Schwing Stetter, we work closely with topnotch finance companies in India who offer finance or purchase of equipment. We are offering special credit terms, clubbed with extended and special warranty terms to our customers. Also, we have partners who offer equipment on a lease basis.” Krishnan says, “For smaller contractors, or those buying from us for the first time, we offer a range of attractive financing options through our Volvo Financial Services arm. Extended warranties and attractive lease options are also available.” SDLG also has seasonal promotions that offer reduced equated monthly instalments. “We encourage equipment hire firms to maintain stock and take advantage of these financial assistance plans,” Mehta states. Despite the need for a more robust development of the currently fragmented market, there is no doubt that things are definitely looking up for the excavators and motor graders segment. With policy and Government rhetoric backing their growth, this industry is surely paving the way for its success.

PLUMBING

IN THE PIPELINE The Indian plumbing industry is on its way to getting organised and better supporting developers with improved solutions. BY MITALEE KURDEKAR

raditionally, plumbing has been regarded as a low importance segment of construction activity. However, it has now assumed high importance in terms of modern-day construction design. Architects and developers, with the support of professional Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) consultants, are taking a keen interest in the design and execution of plumbing solutions across projects. This shift has happened primarily because stakeholders within the construction space see a lot of value addition in this activity, besides the fact that it helps from an environment perspective, in terms of ensur-

58 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

ing compliance with sustainability guidelines. In fact, earlier, any complaints with regard to the plumbing network in the form of leakages, choke-ups etc. led to issues for users and owners of buildings or construction sites, albeit at a later stage. These issues were heightened because, in many cases, such plumbing networks were hidden or concealed for aesthetic reasons, while the workforce available was not adequately trained to deal with major issues. Thankfully, the scenario is fast changing. With the involvement of professionals like MEP consultants and the availability of advanced techniques like Building Information Modelling (BIM),

PLUMBING

architects and developers are not only addressing any probable plumbing issues, upfront; but are also paying close attention to sustainability needs in terms of water saving, energy saving, recycling of waste water and energy etc. FRESH FLOW OF TRENDS Elaborating on these new developments that are being witnessed within the Indian construction space, Atul Jain, joint MD, Jain Irrigation Systems, says, “One of the important trends that I have seen in the building construction space over the last couple of years, and one that we will see improving further with RERA coming into the picture now, is the importance given to those input materials of construction that are not visible. An example is the Mechanical, Elec-

trical and Plumbing (MEP) items, which quite frankly are extremely critical. Another trend that has really picked up well is the focus on and the involvement of specialists to do certain jobs, like structural architects, interior architects, MEP consultants, relevant contractors, etc. In the past, this was something seen extensively in major cities alone, but now seems to have trickled down to the tier-II and tier-III cities. These should do well to improve the quality orientation of the building construction industry.” Shabbir Kanchwala, senior VP, K Raheja Corp, informs of the challenges faced in terms of plumbing solutions employed for commercial versus residential buildings. He explains, “There is a vast difference in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Plumbing too requires a different methodology during implementation. In commer-

ANOTHER TREND IS THE INVOLVEMENT OF SPECIALISTS TO DO CERTAIN JOBS, LIKE MEP Jain Irrigation Systems has been in the plastic piping space for almost four decades.

Jain Irrigation Systems’ Plastic Park in Bambhori, Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

60 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

CONSULTANTS, ETC. ATUL JAIN

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PLUMBING

Given their focus on green buildings, K Raheja Corp stresses on environmental-friendly practices such as water-saving parameters.

WE HAVE INTRODUCED BIM AND LOOK FORWARD TO INCORPORATING THESE FOR SEAMLESS DESIGNS OF MEP SERVICES. SHABBIR KANCHWALA cial projects, the plumbing procedure is more complex, and also needs to cater to a larger number of users. Commercial plumbing includes STP, HVAC, chilled water system, site sewer lines, and lift stations, which requires a certain skill-set and complex industrial equipment. On the other hand, residential plumbing tends to encounter repetitive variations of similar issues, which are more feasible to address.” A spokesperson from Kalpataru offers another perspective, while stating, “Every component in the system is designed considering the fact that commercial buildings are maintained by professional facility management staff, and the whole building itself is generating revenue for its owners, whereas residential buildings need more robust and simpler pumping systems, which have low operations & maintenance costs for the residents.” EVOLVING WITH TECHNOLOGY Providing a customer perspective, Vivek Joshi, executive

62 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

K Raheja Corp’s sales team collects feedback from customers, basis which they finalise the plumbing fixtures in the building.

president, JP Infra Mumbai, suggests that the Indian market is evolving fast. “Evolution, in terms of piping material, CP sanitary fittings, accessories, novelty and automation, has been remarkable and continuous,” he points out. “There is an abundance of new plumbing technology available in the market however there needs to be more awareness amongst end-users and consultants. Furthermore, timely service and maintenance of repair work of fixtures needs to be addressed by the supplier to enhance the plumbing solutions in India,” stresses Kanchwala. As a prominent manufacturer in the space of piping and accessories, Nitin Kulkarni, president – sales and marketing, Finolex Industries, highlights newer applications and products that customers are showing a preference for. He proclaims, “People have realised the importance of selecting the right product for the right application, and hence there is a shift seen from conventional GI pipes to PVC pipes. Yet another example of changing preferences is that instead of using regular PVC pipes, customers now prefer using CPVC pipes for hot water. Also, for non-pressurised domestic applications, usage of SWR pipes is now well recognised. Customers use casing and column pipes depending on the depth of the water table and soil strata.” While MEP consultants help architects and developers select good plumbing solutions, the importance of technological inputs being brought in by manufacturers of plumbing input materials, sanitary products and waste management systems, cannot be denied. Jain proudly declares, “We have been in the plastic piping space for almost four decades, and have predominantly offered products to the agriculture and infrastructure sector. Plumbing-related piping systems for buildings is something that we have ventured into as recently as 2015. Holistically speaking, we have been doing solar

PLUMBING

water heating systems for hot water plumbing supply into homes/hotels/organisations/institutions for almost two decades now. We have also been among the leading companies in the country to provide 24x7 potable water supply to home projects in multiple towns.” PROFESSIONAL APPROACH As earlier mentioned, the involvement of MEP consultants as professionals providing valuable inputs is largely acknowledged to be a connector between manufacturers, architects and the user-developers. These consultants, who are engaged right from the design stage, help is utilising technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM) to map out plumbing systems and their linkages to other critical systems. “Generally, in large-sized projects, architects are involved in the complete design of the project and then MEP consultants pitch in for the complete MEP design and its installation. In most mega projects, MEP consultants play a pivotal role in the overall plumbing design and installation. This approach helps in taking care of structural and operational criticality, and safety of the project,” confirms Kulkarni. Kanchwala says, “At K Raheja Corp, we strive to expose our potential and existing customers to the best services and construction. Our sales team provides us with the valuable feedback received from the customers, basis which we finalise the plumbing fixtures in the building. We have recently introduced BIM in our projects and look forward to incorporating these for seamless designs of MEP services.” The Kalpataru spokesperson states, “We have been using BIM for design and planning of MEP services since the past five years on most of our projects. BIM is a tool which

Finolex’s FlowguardPlus CPVC is a green building material, and is 100% recyclable.

enables us to visualise the complete building with all its systems and elements. Clashes, if any, are identified at the design stage saving us valuable time and money. We intend to go 100% on BIM for the entire end-to-end design and execution of our projects.” The spokesperson further confesses, “Our in-house team of architects and interior designers do a thorough study of all possible fixture layouts and choose the one that makes best use of the available space. However, we are mindful of the fact that a discerning customer would like to customise his bathroom according to his/her tastes. So, we use connectors/adaptors which allow the customer to change to new fittings within the apartment to their taste and liking.” THE SUSTAINABILITY ANGLE Like many other technological interventions, the latest plumbing solutions are designed in a way that ecological con-

PEOPLE HAVE REALISED THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR THE RIGHT APPLICATION. NITIN KULKARNI

CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018 63

PLUMBING

Finolex practices zero effluent discharge in manufacturing of both PVC resin and pipes & fittings at their plant in Ratnagiri.

siderations and sustainability targets are keenly addressed by the products/systems that get implemented. The aim is to reduce water consumption in many cases that can result in less water transportation and thereby reduce energy usage. In mega projects, this means a lot in terms of supporting the ecology and reducing carbon footprint. Explaining K Raheja Corp’s take on the matter, Kanchwala supplies, “There has been an increased focus on eco-friendly designs and operations with respect to plumbing solutions in India. We construct only green buildings, and hence focus on environmental-friendly practices right from the planning and designing stage, with emphasis on water-saving parameters. We also conduct metering of the water usage with respect to the reuse of STP water in landscapes, the quantity of water recycled through STP and the domestic water consumed. Our constructions comprise of installing water-efficient fixtures, dual pipe line drainage system, recycling of waste water and reusing for horticulture & flushing. We place great importance on the plumbing material used to ensure that they are durable and leakage-free.” The spokesperson from Kalpataru suggests, “There is an increasing focus on eco-friendly and eco-sensitive solutions. Reduce, reuse and recycle are the three key elements of sustainable design. We use smart systems which actively monitor plumbing infrastructure, avoid wastages and facilitate the overall robustness of the system.” Kulkarni claims, “Finolex has always been committed to environmental safety by adopting the latest state-ofthe-art technology, resulting in zero effluent discharge in

64 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

EVOLUTION, IN TERMS OF PIPING MATERIAL, CP SANITARY FITTINGS, ACCESSORIES, ETC., HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS. VIVEK JOSHI manufacturing of both PVC resin and pipes & fittings in Ratnagiri. Our products like ASTM CPVC pipes and fittings are lead-free. Further, Finolex’s FlowguardPlus CPVC is a green building material, as it comprises 67% petro-based substance and 33% naturally-found substances like salt. Also, it is 100% recyclable.” Jain sums up the ecology commitment well, when he says, “Everything that Jain Irrigation Systems have done and will continue to do, be it in the space of agriculture, water infrastructure or building construction, will be in line with our vision: To leave this world better than you found it.” Overall, the industry seems intent on bettering its portfolio for the construction segment, and so far, they are cruising along towards that goal.

INTERVIEW

TREADING THE WORLD

Angelo Noronha, president, APAC & MEA, Alliance Tire Group (ATG), has worked studiously and now is a strong contender in the global market.

BY JAYASHREE MENDES Brief us into the history of Alliance Tire Group. Better known as ATG now, we began operations close to 10 years ago with the acquisition of Israel based Alliance Tire Company in 2007 and USbased GPX in 2009 which owned the popular Galaxy and Primex brands. Alliance was already a strong player in the agriculture segment in Europe and Galaxy was segment leader in the US, that’s how we managed to get a solid foothold in the diverse off road tyre industry. Soon after, we built two plants in India—Tirunelveli (2009) and a second one in Dahej (2012-13). Importantly, as a 10-year old company, we acquired companies that were already 50-60 years old in the industry. Both these companies brought in their own domain expertise and offered us knowledge in the respective markets they were present in and that became a perfect fit for us. Driven by a very able entrepreneur Yogesh Mahansaria who scaled up the business from $150 million to a $500 million company when we were acquired by Yokohama in 2016. Overall, we are a good blend of old and new, because most of the employees from Alliance and GPX continued to stay with us. So we are well embedded within geographies, cultures and also across various segment profiles. What further strengthens us is that the acquisitions not only gave us a strong foothold in the US and European markets but also in terms of segment superiority. Alliance is a strong player in agriculture, while Galaxy has a good hold in construction. Over a period of time, we’ve built up the team, encouraged and nurtured talent across geographies and today we are 4000 people. In 2016, Yokohama, one of the largest tire companies in the world acquired us and now we are on a new journey of growth, aiming to touch $1 billion turnover by 2020. How did the Japanese connection come in considering you have been playing in European and US markets? Companies looking to acquire first consider the advantages they can gain and what the new company brings to the table. ATG was one of the fastest growing companies in the off-highway segments of agriculture and construction. We have a huge range of products, close to 3,000 SKUs with two plants in India, and one in Israel. Yokohama was seeking to acquire a company with a high growth rate, sound product portfolio, excellent mar-

CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018 65

INTERVIEW

ket reach, and strong distribution capabilities. They already had a strong presence in passenger vehicle tyres and truck tyres and this acquisition in the off-highway segment therefore complements and completes their entire portfolio. What has changed since Yokohama too over? Yokohama has already been in the tire industry for a 100 years. A company that long into the business has gained maturity, is visionary, and is much respected in the market. Our 8 year growth plan perfectly ties in with the Capex commitments and support from Yokohama. The belief that we can continue to grow and add value is the most important attribute that Yokohama brings to the table. Our organisation and top management remains the same even after the acquisition, and the zeal and endeavour with which we grow at doubledigit is not lost either. The $6 billion Yokohama brings in much R&D and technical expertise. Tyre technology is fairly complex and they have much more expertise when it comes to subjects like compounding, R&D, sourcing raw materials, supply chain, and cutting edge manufacturing processes. Another change is an enhanced focus on safety and quality. We learn much from the Japanese team in terms of Six Sigma, Kaizen, and quality and safety standards. Quality has two aspects to it: Quality for today and quality for the future. That’s a DNA change. These are some of the learnings that Yokohama has kicked off from day one.

ATC adoptes global manufacturing processes and technologies at its plants.

66 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

Considering that you look at numerous markets, what is the strategy employed to deal with them? When Alliance and Galaxy became a part of our portfolio 10 years ago, there were already well-crafted strategies in place. Those acquisitions were not only from a financial perspective. It was a vision of finding the right fitment and leap-frogging in the market. The tyre business requires a basket of product that can beat or negate cyclicity. It is important that one does not rely on just few product lines or few segments to counter cyclicity. Which is why we have one of the widest product range in the industry with almost 300 new SKUs’ launched every year! Each market is unique and a product that is perfect for one may not work in another, that is why it is important to have a wide range of offerings, we are able to bring out new tires consistently because of our strong R&D heritage from Israel and the technical expertise from Yokohama. Does the company invest in new products? Although we have been around for ten years, we have a pedigree of 60 years with Alliance and Galaxy. In the last decade, we have put up two plants in India, and restructured the Israel plant, and there’s continuous investment in manufacturing and the proof of the pudding is in the number of SKUs we have. We have strong R&D teams in India and Israel who are constantly working on developing new products. Since we are not into PV and CV tyres, there’s little dilution of focus. Though we have a good prod-

INTERVIEW

Yokohama has introduced ATC to global quality processes.

Tyres are tested for pressure and weight before being shipped out. uct, there’s a constant drive to enhance it. We do spend time and money in making the product more suited for a given application. For example in agriculture we cater to 20 different sub-segments/applications and in construction/industrial we have tires that cater to 25 sub-segments/applications. There are very few players in the world who can cater to such diverse requirements and who work around this philosophy. How do you stand out in terms of your competition, in India and abroad? Our key differentiation is the better value that we offer our customers. Quality that is world class – at value pricing. Another key differentiation is the speed with which we can launch a tire that is exactly needed by the customer. We do the entire process from concept to launch in a matter of few months. We also invest heavily in a strong field team unlike most other off-highway companies, this ensures that we have our ears close to the ground in

Curing of leather in process. terms of customer demands and feedback that allows us quick responses. Overall, how does Yokohama handhold ATG in terms of developing the Indian market? ATG is a fairly structured organisation and Yokohama’s focus is on retaining our fast paced growth. From Yokohama we have senior representatives who are a part of our Technology, Projects, Processes and Integration teams and these representatives facilitate the exchange of knowledge both ways. ATG’s brands – Alliance and Galaxy have been prominent players in the off road segment for over six decades, the wealth of knowledge and expertise in this segment is a valuable asset for Yokohama. Similarly the expertise Yokohama has in technology can accelerate ATG’s growth ambitions. Wherever possible globally ATG is free to utilise Yokohama’s distribution and warehousing facilities to optimise costs and improve synergies. So I would say it’s more a partnership approach than handholding.

CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018 67

PRESENTS

8TH ANNUAL

C E L E B R AT I N G E X C E L L E N C E POWERED BY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PLATINUM PARTNERS

MAGAZINE PARTNERS

28 SEPTEMBER 2018, MUMBAI TH

For sponsorships, contact: Bibhor Srivastava, +91 98204 39239, bibhor@itp.com Indrajeet Saoji, +91 93202 85997, indrajeet.saoji@itp.com

For nominations, contact: Melanie Godfrey, +91 96697 98793, melanie.godfrey@os.itp.com

AN EVENT BY

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN Inviting nominations for: COMPANY AWARDS

PROJECT AWARDS

PEOPLE AWARDS

♦ Real Estate Company

♦ Roads & Highways Project

♦ Infrastructure Person of the Year

♦ Infrastructure Company

♦ Green Project of the Year

♦ Real Estate Person of the Year

♦ Road Contractor

♦ High-rise Project

♦ Procurement Person of the Year

♦ MEP Contractor

♦ Metro Rail Project

♦ Project Manager of the Year

♦ Façade Contractor

♦ Residential Project

♦ Window Fabricator

♦ Pre-engineered Building (PEB) Project ♦ Façade Project NEW

♦

Architectural Design - Residential

NEW

♦

Architectural Design - Commercial

To download the nomination forms, log on to:

www.constructionweekawards.in

Last date for sending in nominations: August 10, 2018

CONSUMER CONNECT

Best-laid Plans

Niraj Borikar, chief marketing officer, Isotrack Innovative Infrastructure, explains how projects can be kept on track with Isotrack. Isotrack L series mats.

he infrastructure sector is a key driver for India, which has one of the fastest and largest growing economies. The infrastructure sector, which is growing rapidly, is responsible for driving Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall development and requires the support of the Government of India through initiating policies to ensure the timebound delivery of world-class infrastructure in the country. Urban transport, roads and highways, bridges, dams, power, renewable energy, smart cities, etc. are some of the key industries where the Government of India is investing heavily.

CRITICAL CHALLENGE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS With such projects in mind and in order to turn the infrastructure dream into a reality, there are great challenges which need to be tackled efficiently. One of the challenge which all infrastructure projects face is keeping on track with the planned project schedule. Construction delays are very common in most projects everywhere in the world. The performance of a construction project is measured on cost, time, and quality. In most cases, time has direct influence on cost. There could be several reasons for the delay in projects. However, because the infrastructure or construction projects are majorly outdoor construction projects, careful consideration needs to be given to the ground conditions and terrain at site. Major delays in projects can happen due to various controllable and uncontrollable factors like unforeseen ground condition and terrain, inclement weather, restricted access to project sites, lower manpower productivity due to poor working conditions, equipment/vehicle breakdowns due to

70 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

Isotrack X series mats.

poor ground conditions like wet, marshy grounds, loose soil, sand, etc. Overcoming these challenges would save a lot of time and costs, besides delivering the projects on time. HOW ISOTRACK CAN HELP? Isotrack is a solution provider for Ground Protection, Ground Stabi-

CONSUMER CONNECT

Isotrack L series mats.

closed cell expanded polyethylene foam to prevent ingress of water or contaminants in the event of severe damage and puncture. Isotrack X can be deployed using different equipment including telehandlers, chains and hooks, and vacuum lift.

Isotrack X series mats.

lisation, and Temporary Access Roads in difficult terrain conditions. We provide light-duty and heavy-duty engineered portable mats that make it easy to walk, drive and transport materials and equipment over soft, uneven or muddy ground conditions, regardless of the weather or location. Isotrack provides two types of mats in India. ISOTRACK L - Solid Construction/ Two Man Lift/ Light-duty Applications This mat measures 2.4 x 1.2m, weighs just 36kgs, and – using the handholds – can be easily lifted by two men for speedy deployment and connection. It is made from durable, solid High-density Polyethylene and can be used to provide access tracks for site workers and lighter equipment and vehicles. Key types of projects and use include events, construction, parking access/areas and site compounds. It has two different types of surface traction for the safe movement of vehicles or personnel/pedestrians. ISOTRACK X - Cellular Core Construction/ Overlaps/ Heavy-duty/ Buoyancy The Isotrack X Mat, measuring 4 x 2m is already proving a success on major oil and gas projects in India. It can be used on any project requiring safe access for man and machine to remote sites, overcoming difficult terrain. Its cellular core provides great compressive strength (415 t/m2) and stability, whilst the overlaps provide support across and between mats. Connection is easy and quick using the 1/8th locking turn of the Four3 connector. The core cells are each filled with

WHY USE ISOTRACK TEMPORARY ROAD MATS? On all projects, time is money, and construction equipment and vehicles are valuable assets that you cannot afford to have bogged down in soft ground. Using Isotrack mats can provide sure and safe access for personnel and equipment, reducing risk of stoppage and downtime due to soft ground conditions. These mats provide a safe and solid working platform for cranes, transport vehicles and staging areas eliminating the recurring cost of construction and de-construction of permanent access roads, and thereby, help in reducing the idle time and WIP cost due to faster movement of equipment even during the monsoon season when the soil is completely marshy. Isotrack temporary road mats are extremely durable, easily deployed, have a long service life and provide a safe, cost-effective solution compared to using timber or steel – or nothing at all. They also help to protect the ground, minimising the need for any reinstatement. These mats are made from the highest quality materials, are completely recyclable and using them can help support company health and safety and sustainability objectives. PARTNER WITH ISOTRACK We can now provide unrivalled manufacturing and technical support to Isotrack customers and users. Collectively, the ISOTRACK team provides several decades of direct temporary road mat and ground protection experience including mat design and manufacture as well as involvement across a wide range of project types and sectors and global areas. ISOTRACK customers can be confident of having the right mat for the job. Our slogan ‘Protect – Be Safe’ encapsulates the objectives of the ISOTRACK mats, where design innovation has been focused on supporting major customer, corporate, health & safety, and sustainability objectives. For more information, please visit: www.isotrack.in

CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018 71

TECHNOLOGY

MATERIALS SCIENCE

Ashish Kumar, CEO, Arvind Advanced Materials, explains how FRP bridges or similar structures should become the norm for building infrastructure in India.

BY JAYASHREE KINI MENDES

Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is a unique concept hitherto unexplored in India. Could you brief us on the technology?

Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) is an alternative to steel and doesn’t corrode even when exposed to harsh environmental conditions. It is a composite material manufactured by a combination of glass and polyester, with the same mechanical strength as steel but half its weight. FRP’s density is one-fourth that of steel, but its mechanical properties are much better, resulting in superior strength-to-weight ratio. With time, the production and use of FRP material has become widespread. This has led to a significant reduction in cost thus making it affordable for various commonplace applications. In the last few decades, the use of FRP has become commonplace for structures such as cooling towers, hand-rails, walkways, platforms, etc. It has become the material of choice for civil engineers in applications where low weight and weather-ability are important considerations. FRP can be used to build bridges too, as the material is strong, easy to install and, importantly, long lasting. Arvind Advanced Materials has entered into an exclusive agreement with ICS Tech Pro LLC to provide FRP Bridge solution in selected geographies including India. ICS Tech Pro has vast experience in designing and building FRP bridges globally. Along with Arvind’s material expertise and process excellence, we

would be able to offer the best solutions for all terrains, load profiles, etc. What is the response to such advancements in India – either from contractors or the government?

India has a network of close to six lakh bridges spread across the country. Most of these are along the coast, over rivers or in high seismic zones. While India has grown leaps and bounds in connecting various regions, some regions especially in rural hinterlands, riverine areas, coastal areas and hilly terrains are still unconnected. FRP bridges provides a strong, easy-to-install and cost-effective solution to connect these regions. Also, the Indian government is focusing on strengthening the infrastructure near the northern borders and NorthEast–both these regions are hilly. FRP bridges are an ideal solution for areas like these. Just to give you an estimate, FRP bridges can be installed as quickly as within 12 hours. Could you tell us about the variants in the bridge decks and their structure? What are the lengths they are suitable for?

While evaluating FRP bridge suitability for any application, four factors are considered – unsupported span, width, loading and the components used. These can be modelled to suit various applications. We are currently working on two sets of applications to begin with:

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TECHNOLOGY

FRP bridges can be installed as quickly as within 12 hours.

With time, the production and use of FRP material has become widespread. What are the design methods and construction methods of these bridges?

FRP bridges are a superior alternative for regions with difficult terrain, riverine, coastal areas and high seismic zones.

â&#x2122;Ś Bridges for light weight vehicles: Max total weight of 10 metric tonnes, maximum width of 3.5meters and maximum unsupported span of four meters â&#x2122;Ś Pedestrian bridges: Till unsupported span of 10meters How about the wear and tear of FRP bridges?

FRP bridges could practically last for the longest time as they are completely non-corroding in nature, while wooden, steel bridges typically need refurbishment after 10-15 years. FRP bridges are a superior alternative for regions with difficult terrain, riverine, coastal areas and high seismic zones. They can also be quickly repaired when broken, recycled if required.

74 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2018

Most of the components of FRP bridges such as girders, re-bars, decking panels, etc., are pre-fabricated. Being 70% lighter than mild steel, it can be easily transported, handled and managed without the support of large cranes. Also, being lighter helps to reduce the inertia forces in seismic prone regions. Depending on the strength requirements, FRP parts can be combined in various designs or could also be combined with pre-cast concrete, steel sections to build mixed bridges. Please provide a detailed case study of a bridge implemented, preferably in India.

FRP bridge construction first began around the mid-90s in USA; since then multiple FRP bridges have been constructed globally. In Spain, the first vehicular FRP girder bridge (2004) was built along the highway leading to the Asturias airport. The girders weighed just ~50kN which were then transported through trucks and assembled at the site. Three such girders of length 46m each were used. The entire bridge installation was completed within three hours.