October - December 2008 • Vol. No. 31 • Issue No.

3
 Man-made reservoirs are vital to agricultural development and
Contents Vol. No. 31 • Issue No. 3
power generation using low energy inputs. To resource this Overview of Hydel
effectively, massive excavation and construction of concrete Power Projects 3
structures that can withstand enormous pressure have to be
Specialised Support Services for
built with utmost care and skill.
Critical and Complex Structures 6
L&T offers comprehensive construction services for building
Subansiri Lower HEP – A National
hydropower projects including geo-technical and foundation Powerhouse in Making 8
engineering works. Areas of expertise include engineering,
procurement and construction of underground tunnels,
Parbati HEP – A Landmark Project 12
diversion wiers, all types of dams, large underground caverns, Allain Duhangan Hydroelectric Project
pressure shafts, surge chambers, underground and surface (L&T’s Endeavour at the highest
power houses; fabrication and erection of gates and penstocks; altitude of 2750 m) 26
barrages, canals, aqueducts, covering civil, hydro-mechanical
Singoli-Bhatwari Hydro
and electro-mechanical works. Electric Project - Small Step for
A Giant Leap 30
In this issue of ECC Concord, we present to you a wide variety
of complex hydro power projects a under execution in extremely Tapovan Vishnugad
Hydro Electric Power Project
difficult conditions. Happy reading!
with TBM Technology 34
Editor V.S. Ramana
Kuttiyadi Hydroelectric Project 38
Editorial Team K. Sridharan | Alex Benjamin | V. Ramesh Kumar |
Ashwin Chand | V. Eswar | Subha Anand
Kaleidoscope 42
Photography V.S. Natanavelu
Design & Layout Srishti Graphics Design, Chennai.
Head Race Tunnel (HRT) for Subansiri Hydro Electric Project (HEP)
Overview of
Hydel Power Projects
I ndia is blessed with a total installed capacity of
1, 41,080 MW of electricity as per reports by the
Ministry of Power, Government of India. Of this
nearly 64.4% (90,895 MW) comes from thermal
generation, 24.95% (35,208 MW) from hydro
power, 2.8% (4120 MW) from nuclear power and
the rest from renewable energy resources.
As India’s per capita electricity consumption at
present is very low at 631 kWh when compared
to the four and five digit figures in developed
countries, the National Electricity Policy envisages
that the per capita availability of electricity will be
increased to over 1,000 kWh by 2012. To achieve
this, the government is expecting a total capacity
addition of about 78,577 MW by end of 2012 of
which about 58,644 MW is expected from thermal,
16,553 MW from hydro and 3,380 MW from
nuclear.
Diversion weir with gates for Varahi HEP in Karnataka
Hydro Potential
The exploitable hydro-electric potential in terms of
installed capacity is estimated to be about 141,080
MW, out of which a capacity of 30,164 MW (20.3%)
has been developed so far and 13,616 MW (9.2 %)
of capacity is under construction. In addition, 6,782
MW in terms of installed capacity from small, mini
and micro hydro schemes have been assessed.
Also, 56 sites for pumped storage schemes with
an aggregate installed capacity of 94,000 MW
have been identified. The government expects to
harness its full potential of hydropower by 2027
with a whopping 5,000 billion Rupees investment.
It is also to be noted that the untapped hydro
electric potential is generally spread across in the
North and North-eastern states of India. Hydel
power is a renewable and reliable power system
3 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

Penstock for Tata-Bhira HEP in Maharashtra
that is non-polluting and an environmentally
benign source of energy having inherent ability for
instantaneous starting, stopping and correcting
load variations. The growth in Hydel power is also
encouraged due to depletion of oil reserves apart
from its very low operating costs. The ideal Hydel
Thermal mix of 40:60 could be achieved only if we
exploit the available potential quickly. The targeted
capacity addition during 11th plan (2007-12) and
12th plan (2012-17) are 15,627 MW and 37,562 MW
respectively. In fact, the target for 12th five year
plan is equal to the capacity addition achieved
since independence.
Track Record
Larsen & Toubro is one of the key players
in providing Engineering, Procurement and
Construction (EPC) services for different industrial
sectors and Hydel Segment is no exception
to it. L&T made its foray in to Hydel Segment
when it secured the first order for renovation and
modernization of 150 MW Bhira Pumped Storage
project during early 1990s. Subsequently, it
executed the penstock works for 72 MW Bhivpuri
hydroelectric station, both projects for Tata Power
Company in Maharashtra.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 4
Infrastructure Business
Followed by this, a slew of projects were
successfully executed by L&T, such as the 20 MW
Chilime HEP, 30 MW Trishuli-Devighat, Sunsari
Morang Head works in Nepal and 1020 MW Tala
project in Bhutan. Most of these projects were
executed as a part of the heavy civil works and
erstwhile “Infra Business Unit” till early 2000 along
with Roads, Runways, Bridges, Ports, Harbors,
etc. Foreseeing the huge business potential in the
sector, it was decided to have a separate Business
Unit to facilitate a better customer focus, business
development and foster growth of the business in
line with the organizational vision and objectives.
Accordingly, Hydel & Irrigation Business Unit was
formed during the year 2002-03.
Challenges
Generally, hydel projects are developed on hilly
regions at high elevations, far away from cities by
virtue of its inherent nature. As such, execution
of hydel projects presents several challenges in
terms of accessibility, logistics and resources.
Getting the right kind of people to execute the
project is yet another challenge. However, L&T’s
superior project execution capabilities were aptly
supported by various people centric initiatives and
L&T was successful in getting the right people for
execution of these projects by a judicial mixture
of lateral recruitment and intensive training for
in-house staff. Many sophisticated BU specific
equipment were also added to strengthen the
existing fleet of equipment.
Over a period of time, the business unit achieved
a steady growth and excellent all round
progress with management support, guidance
and nurturing coupled with the collective and
dedicated efforts of all staff and workmen. As a
result, the BU has consolidated its position and
enhanced its strengths in several areas including
finance, technology development, resources
augmentation, pre-qualification strengths, etc.
Moreover, successful execution of some of the
major projects apart from instilling confidence in
the team also established L&T’s brand name in
the Hydel segment. Today, L&T is one of the top
five companies in Hydel sector in India. Some of
the remarkable achievements of the BU in this
sector include construction of a number of hydro
power projects aggregating to 6550 MW capacity Extension scheme, Veligonda Dam, Polavaram
(including both completed and ongoing projects) Main canal etc.
involving construction of 74 km of tunnels, 118
A full fledged Hydel design/engineering unit has
km of canals and 7 dams / weirs including the
been constituted at Faridabad and this is currently
LPG Cavern at Vizag which is one of the deepest
operating with 40 engineers.
Underground caverns for storing LPG. This project
won several international awards. L&T’s entry into Hydel power development on BOT
basis is yet another milestone achievement and
Specifically, the successful completion of 1020 MW
it will not be out of place to mention that Singoli
Tala HEP in Bhutan as well as the Purulia Pumped
Bhatwari project is the first BOT project being
Storage Project in West Bengal and the Cavern
developed by L&T in Uttaranchal state.
project at Vizag paved the way for prequalification
of certain major tunnel and cavern related works. On the whole L&T is playing a critical and significant
role in the development of India’s power / energy
In a short span, L&T secured orders for some of
scenario. In the process, it is continuously learning
the most critical projects and enhanced its value
and improving several of its systems, operations
chain in Hydel / irrigation projects. Some of these
and project management capabilities in Hydel
projects include construction of the Concrete Dam
segment with the ultimate objective of customer
at Veligonda, Tunnel & Surface power house for
delight. No doubt, L&T has grown from a fledgling
India’s largest hydropower project (2000 MW
to a major contributor in the field, building on its
Subansiri Lower HEP), Cutoff wall and rock-fill
strengths and competencies and taking up major
dam at Parbati (Stage III) HEP, Tunnel Construction
projects with bigger challenges and complexities
by Tunnel Boring Machine at Tapovan Vishnugad
and leaping forward in to the future for energising
HEP etc.
the lives of the people.
Hydel/Irrigation projects are undertaken on EPC P. NIRANJANA
basis, such as 100 MW Kuttiyadi Additional General Manager & Head (Hydel & Nuclear BU)

4 x 225 MW Purulia Pumped Storage Power Project, West Bengal

5 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 Specialised Support Services
for critical and complex structures
Construction Methods and Highlights of major projects
Planning
Underground Cavern Project, Vizag
A dedicated Construction Methods Planning
Underground Cavern Package: CMPC developed
Cell (CMPC) at Chennai presently known as
construction methods along with the detailed
Infrastructure Engineering and Technical Services-
working drawings for execution of shaft sinking,
CMPC (H&N) focusses on the developing
horizontal galleries and cavern muck hoisting.
construction methods and design of enabling
CMPC provided a foolproof, very high efficient
works for all types of hydel and nuclear power
cavern muck hoisting system against all odds to
projects. CMPC has experienced engineers,
the complete satisfaction of Geostack, France
technical personnel including state-of-the-art
(Consultant) as well as Shaftsinker, South Africa –
hardware and software for providing fast and
a world leader in mines.
accurate solutions. CMPC has made detailed
study and standardized the engineering for Intake structure and aboveground piping
enabling structures including site camp facilities package: A methodology was adopted for the
and workshops. Through continuous learning, headgear (used in UG package) as a guide
innovation and value engineering, it is planning to structure for installing a group of LPG piping each
set global benchmarks. 24” dia and weighing around 50t.

Asia’s largest under-ground cavern for storing LPG at Visakhapatnam

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 6

Veligonda Dam
Tower crane for dam concreting: Provided a
self erecting type track beam for the 25t capacity
tower crane at upstream and downstream and
tyre-mounted gantry crane for handling formwork
above the reach of towers during the construction
of dam.
Complete engineering for aggregate cooling
system (transportation, cooling & feeding up to
Batching plant) to produce low slump concrete with
150mm down aggregates at 12° C temperature as
against 50° C ambient temperature.
Parbati Hydro-electric Power Project
A hydraulically operated tunnel concrete lining
gantry was provided to construct diversion tunnels
with horse shoe shape. This proved cost effective
and efficient.
Tapovan - Vishnugad Hydro-electric Power
Project:
Complete engineering has been done in-house
to set up a factory for manufacturing precast
segments for tunnel lining with tools and tackles
for handling of precast elements in steep hills of
Himalayas near Joshi Mutt.
Design and consultancy
Engineering Design and Research Centre (EDRC)
– the design arm of L&T located at Faridabad, offers
basic study, conceptual design, detail engineering
and consultancy services for all projects coming
under the classification of Hydro Power Plants and
Irrigation projects.
It has the capacity for conducting river flood
analysis, detailed site survey and investigations,
hydrological, power potential and geological
studies, Environmental Impact Analysis,
conceptualization, project layout and design,
detail engineering, derivation of BOQ, rate
analysis, project cost and economic evaluation
of hydroelectric projects. The design capabilities
extends to construction of dams (concrete,
earthen, rock-fill and roller compacted concrete),
barrages and weirs; river diversion; de-silting
chambers; intake structures; all types of tunnels
for water / transportation; pressure / surge
shafts and penstocks; power houses (above
Hydraulically operated tunnel concrete lining gantry
and underground); river interlinking projects
and irrigation structures such as canals, cross
drainage works, aqueducts, super passages, etc.
Basic engineering and detailed designs/drawings
are also produced for hydro-mechanical works
and basic engineering and integration studies for
electro-mechanical works.
Other areas of expertise include preparing
feasibility reports, detailed project reports, technical
specifications and construction engineering for
the above projects.
Foundation Engineering
The Foundation Engineering group of EDRC
offers engineering solutions for the entire gamut
of Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering
designs.
It has wide ranging capabilities for the design of
shallow foundations, deep foundations, deep
excavations, dewatering, ground improvement,
sheet piles, diaphragm walls, well foundations
etc. It is equipped with the latest advanced
software such as Talren, Modflow and Plaxis for all
geotechnical analyses. It also prepares foundation
recommendation reports based on investigations
and co-ordinates closely with other competency
cells and prepares designs based on appropriate
construction methodologies.
The group has contributed to considerable savings
in Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering areas
for various hydel and nuclear power projects. Caption
7 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
Subansiri Lower HEP –
National A
Powerhouse
in the making
Anil Kumar Pandey
Project Manager

Portal for Adit to Head Race Tunnel

H arnessing the available hydel energy potential
of the Country symbolizes growth. Moreover,
hydropower is amongst the cleanest, efficient and
Assam is located in the left bank and Dollungmukh
in Arunachal Pradesh is located in the right bank
of the Subansiri River.
a major renewable energy resource for economic
SLHEP is the largest hydro power project in India
development. The present installed generating
and South-East Asia, taken up by India’s leading
capacity of power in the country is approximately
Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) National
1.10 lakh MW, out of which, the share of hydropower
Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited.
is approx 0.28 lakh MW that is around 25%.
The Construction works for the project has been
India is endowed with a vast amount of hydro divided in to four major packages and awarded
electric potential and it ranks 5th in terms of to four different agencies for convenience of
exploitable hydro-potential on global scenario. As execution. A plan showing the general layout of
per the assessment made by Central Electricity the project is given below.
Authority, India is endowed with economically
L&T – ECC has been entrusted with Package - 2
exploitable hydropower potential to the tune
of the SLHEP covering Construction of HRT Intake
of 1,48,700 MW of installed capacity. Out of
Structures, Head Race Tunnels, Surge Chamber,
this, approximately 66,065 MW is assessed in
Pressure Shafts, Tail Race Channel, Adits and
Brahmaputra basin itself.
Surface Power House. Valued at Rs 921.59 Crore.
Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project (SLHEP)
with its 2000 MW potential forms a part of three Scope of Works
mega hydroelectric projects to be constructed
The major scope of works for the Project
on river Subansiri, a major tributary of river
includes:
Brahmaputra. The Subansiri River at Dam
• 55 lakh cu.m of excavation in Surface for
site forms the boundary between Assam and
Access Roads, Power house & HRT Intakes
Arunachal states. The Gerukamukh village in
using Drill & Blast method.

Project layout of Subansiri Lower HEP in Arunachal Pradesh

9 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08


• 6 lakh cu.m of excavation in Surface for Surge
Chamber using Mechanized Excavation
methods.
• 10 lakh cu.m of excavation in Underground
for Adits, Head Race Tunnels & Pressure
Shafts using Mechanized Excavation
methods.
• 11 lakh cu.m of concreting for Surface &
Underground.
• 75000 tons of reinforcement
The project is the largest single order secured
by L&T in the Hydel BU and the same is being
executed as a “Task Force” being led by
Mr. P Niranjana, stationed at ECC Head Quarters
Chennai and represented at site by Mr. Anil Kumar
Pandey, Project Manager. Mr. K S R K Verma, Hydel
HQ, Faridabad is the Cluster Project Manager.
For execution of this project, L&T has deployed
a large fleet of highly sophisticated Plant &
Machinery, with an equally large work force of staff
and workmen.
The Project execution is marked with unique
mechanized construction methods adopted for
the first time in a major hydro electric project
in India. As per technical specifications of the
contract, excavation of the Surge Chamber in
Surface and Underground were supposed to
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 10
Excavation for Power House in progress
be carried out using mechanized excavation
methods. This stipulation was necessitated due
to poor Geological conditions with low strength
of the rocks in general and closer alignment of
head race tunnels. It was felt that carrying out
drilling and blasting in these rocks may damage
the surrounding rock mass, resulting in probable
failure of same during construction.
In order to meet this contractual obligation with
safety measures, ECC deployed higher capacity
roadheaders. Currently ECC has deployed five
roadheaders at site for carrying out underground
excavation. An average progress of 45m per
face has been achieved with above roadheader
machines and the work is progressing as
per schedule. Recently the project team was
congratulated by NHPC Limited for achieving an
internal milestone of “Completing 900m of HRT
Excavation” ahead of schedule.
During the course of execution, the design
of surge chamber underwent major changes
due to the unstable geology and uncertainties
involved in stabilization of the surge chamber. This
necessitated incorporation of surge tunnel in place
of surge chamber.
For the first time, ECC used a highly sophisticated
Excavator Mounted Rock Cutters, Road Headers
installed with a raise-borer for carrying out the
excavation of five 97.5m deep Vertical Pressure
Shafts in this project. Being a specialized work, the
sub-contract for same was awarded to Bergteamet,
Sweden who executed the above works in a period
of 3 months.
Infrastructure for the project
Being a critical project located on a remote
place it lacks many basic amenities. Therefore,
L&T management decided to provide excellent
infrastructure for the project. The site has been
installed with a captive power plant of 1.50 MW
capacity using Heavy Furnace Oil (HFO) facility to
cater to the exclusive needs of power for 400TPH
capacity crushing plant and 200 cum/hr batching
plant. A fully mechanized double storied cement
godown having integrated conveyors for cement
transportation and bag splitter for cement feeding
to batching plant silos has also been installed. The
Project has also installed a fully automatic rebar
processing plant (70 MT/day) capacity to cater to
the project requirements.
Head Race Tunnel for Subansiri HEP
Amenities for staff
The site is also provided with a state of the art
executive living facilities and dining mess for
the bachelor staff with “first time” features like
automatic Idli & Dosa making machines, automatic
dishwasher, etc. Self contained, well equipped staff
colony is established for the bachelor and family
accommodation. These facilities are contributing
to keeping the staff members happy and motivated
for staying at this remote place.
To sum up, the complex technical features
coupled with a very tight project schedule makes
the construction of Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric
project an immensely daunting and challenging
task for the Engineers of L&T. However, each
team member of the project understands that this
is a flagship project for the H&N BU of L&T-ECC
and the experience gained from this project will
be immensely helpful for establishing L&T as a
major force to reckon with in the blooming hydro
sector. This feel keeps all of them motivated and
committed for delivering the project in time to the
customer.
11 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
Parbati
HEP – A Landmark
Project
S. K. Upadhyay
Resident Project Manager
T.M.Urankar
Construction Manager
D. R. Pant
Chief Geologist/
Construction Manager
N.K Singh
Construction Manager
R. Ravi Kumar
Construction Manager
Tunnelling in the
Himalayan Geology
The Parbati Hydroelectric Project Stage III (520
MW) is a run-of-the-river scheme on Sainj River
located 800 m downstream of its confluence with
Jiwa Nallah in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
It envisages utilization of waters released from
tailrace of Parbati Hydro-electric Project (Stage-
II) powerhouse at Suind as well as discharges of
Sainj River in the Beas catchment.
Salient Features
The project mainly involves construction of:
• A 43 m high rock-fill dam having a crest length
of 186.425m;
• Two circular shaped concrete lined diversion
cum spillway tunnels - 391m x 6.75m dia
and 440m long x 5.0 m dia with a thickness of
0.4m
• Two power intake tunnels 475 m & 430 m long
feeding two desilting chambers 250m long,
12.2m wide, 22.50 m high
• Concrete lined headrace tunnel 7.875 km long
and 7.25m diameter
• Surge Shaft 20 m diameter x 133.75 m high
• Two steel lined pressure shafts 510 m & 460 m
long both having a diameter of 4.50m and each
bifurcating into two 3.0 m diameter penstocks
• An underground powerhouse chamber 122m
long x 22m wide and 41.7m high housing
four vertical axis Francis turbines to drive four
generators of 130 MW capacity each,
• An underground transformer cavern 98.2m
long x 15.5m wide and 25.2m high with a 8.1m
diameter 2.67 km long tailrace tunnel.
Scope of Works
At Parbati Hydroelectric Power Project, L&T has
been entrusted with LOT-1 package, which involves
Civil Works for the construction of Diversion cum
Spillway Tunnels including Gates, Coffer Dams,
43 m high Rockfill Dam along with Diaphragm wall,
Orifice type and Chute Spillway. Civil works for
Intake works consisting intake tunnels, Desilting
Chambers and flushing systems including branch
tunnels, and 7.25 m diameter horseshoe shaped
part Head Race Tunnel of length 5.90 km and
other associated works.
The Head Race Tunnel (HRT) is being excavated
through 3 access tunnels - Adit-1, Adit-2 and
Adit-3 meeting HRT at chainage 17m, 3974m and
7782m having length of 145m, 715m and 154m,
respectively.
Himalayan Terrain
Reliable snow-fed rivers with steep topography in
Himalayas have attracted hydropower developers
to invest in this sector due to the ever increasing
demand of power. Hydropower developments
in the Himalayan terrain have always been
a challenge to civil engineers, geologists/
geotechnical experts due to the rugged nature and
complex geological conditions. In view of its virgin
quality, for which Himalayas are famous for and the
limited investigations that have been carried out to
understand the strata below, geological surprises
during implementation of projects are inevitable.
The headrace tunnel (HRT) of the Parbati
Hydroelectric Project Stage – III is infested
with typical problems related to unpredictable
geology and topographical complexity. Problems
during tunnelling mainly, cavity formation in HRT
(Face-2) as a result of weak zones, were tackled
by adopting an innovative technique called “Pipe
Roofing Techniques” employed by L&T for the first
time.
Rock mass encountered mainly consisted of Class
–IV with few sections of Class V and Class-III. Poor
stretches of tunnel were stabilized by several
application of shotcrete followed by fore-poling,
steel set installation with concrete backfilling. In
Class V rock, heading and benching methodology
was adopted.
13 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

Headrace Tunnel
Excavation methodology adopted as well as
support measures provided in tunnel varied from
place to place depending upon site geological
condition encountered at the work face.
Tunnel Support
After removal of excavated material from the face,
the exposed rock is supported before taking up
the next operation of blasting. Rock support is
decided based on rock condition at the face. To
quantify rock at the face, rock mass classification
system called “RMR” (rock mass rating) is being
used.
Support Methodology
Shotcrete
This involves applying a mixture of cement and
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 14
Adit-2 portal – access tunnel to HRT
water sprayed by shotcrete machine fitted with
robot arm.
Rock Anchor/Bolt
Drilling of hole for the rock bolt is being carried out
by Tamrock machine. Rock bolt is inserted in the
hole and grouted either by cement grout or resin
grout. A plate is placed outside on rock on the
installed bolt and tightened by nut.
Wire mesh
Wire mesh in rolls is brought to work face and fixing
is done manually by using scissors platform. Wire
mesh will be firmly fixed to the rock by fixing clips
into the surface. Fixed wiremesh is completely
covered by shotcrete layer of designed thickness.
Steel Rib
Structural steel ISHB sections are fabricated
and bent to the required shape, size and pieces
Boomer
 Project Highlights
Construction of Diversion Cum Spillway Tunnels
including Gates and Hoists, Coffer Dams, Rockfill
Dam, Spillway, Intake Structures and part of Head
Race Tunnel.
The Parbati Hydroelectric Project Stage III is
located in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh in
the Himalayan zones. Project Head quarter is at
Sainj about 250 km from Chandigarh on NH 21
and Sainj is 20 km interior from Aut on NH 21.
The Project is located on Sainj river and comprises
of construction of 43 m high Rock fill Dam across
river Sainj. A 7.875 km concrete lined Head Race
Tunnel on the left bank of river conveys water to
the underground Power house. The water from
the Power House is discharged back into Sainj
river through 2.67 km long Tail Race Tunnel.
• Client : National Hydro Electric Power
Corporation Limited.
• Design Consultants: National Hydro Electric
Power Corporation Limited.
• Contract Value: 439.07 crore
• Commencement date: 15-12-2005
• Duration: 56 Months
• Location: Sainj
• District: Kullu
Branch tunnels to Head Race Tunnel
• River : Sainj (a tributary of Beas river)
• Location of Dam:
Rockfill Dam on river Sainj at Suind village.
• Nearest Rail Head: Kiratpur
• Nearest Airport: Bhunter
Scope of works
• Excavation : 1800000 cu.m
• Embankment : 500000 cu.m
• Concreting : 440000 cu.m
• Reinforcement : 11000 t
• Structural steel (ribs) : 3000 t
Achievements
• Completion of of HRT Excavation - 3000
meters on schedule
• Completion of concreting of both Desilting
Chamber Cavern Domes achieved on 23rd
Feb’08 i.e. 81 days ahead of schedule.
• Diaphragm Wall completion achieved on 17th
July’08 i.e. 150 days ahead of schedule.
• Placement of 2,00,000 cu.m of Rockfill
material, Graded material, Clay Filling &
Riprap achieved on 17th Dec 08 i.e. 301 days
ahead of schedule.
15 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 to suit the tunnel profile. Excavators and scissor
platform are used for erecting the steel ribs in
position. After anchoring ribs with rock, lagging
is placed followed by bulkhead and backfill
concreting.
Concrete Lining
Concrete lining of HRT is taken up once the tunnel
excavation is completed. Concrete lining is the final
support system in the tunnel and will be done in
three stages using CIFA Gantry system. The three
stages of concrete lining include Kerb Concrete,
Overt Concrete and Invert Concrete.
Concrete will be pumped through pipes installed
on the Gantry. After concreting the required area,
gantry will be moved to the next position and
concreting will continue as stated above. 6 cu.m
capacity transit mixtures supply the concrete in to
the tunnel.
Special Tunnelling Techniques
Where very poor rock conditions are prevailing or
tunnel face is unable to advance with conventional
excavation methods, special tunnelling techniques
are employed. For such extremely poor conditions
with adverse geology, following special tunnelling
techniques viz. pregrouting, fore poling & pipe
roofing are followed.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 16
Installation of pipe roofing
Drilling and placement of 89mm diameter 21m
long seamless pipes by Symmetrix drilling system
around periphery of tunnel at spacing of 300mm.
Drilling and installation of pipes was done first in
heading (above spring line of tunnel).
To begin with grouting of primary holes were taken
up, followed by secondary holes. Primary holes
are spaced at 600mm and secondary holes in
between primary holes.
Thus, pipe roofing and stabilization of tunnel with
cavity formation was treated.
Instrumentation
To monitor the effect of installed support and
monitoring of tunnel movement in underground
structures, specialized geotechnical instruments
as follows are installed:
Tape Extensometer - To measure convergence or
divergence of tunnel
Borehole Extensometer - To measure rock
deformation in the boreholes
Load Cell- To measure load on the installed rock
bolt/anchor
Survey Target Point – To measure movement in
rock and installed supports
Steel rib support in Adit 2 to HRT
Instrumentation is an extremely important part of
tunnelling activity and is highly useful in monitoring
the behaviour of tunnel during construction. Careful
monitoring on regular basis can prevent loss of life
and equipment due to tunnel failure. Abnormal
reading observed from the instruments should
be examined carefully and remedial measures
like installation of additional supports should be
undertaken immediately to avoid accident.
Quality, Safety & Environment
Management Plan
Proper care has been taken to ensure work being
executed as per the required standards and
specifications. All site activities are monitored with
proper co-ordination to ensure the quality, safety
and minimum disturbance to the environment.
Lessons from experience
From the above, it is very clear that projects in
Himalayas are required to be conceptualized
and planned for implementation considering
unpredictable geological situations as an integral
part of project execution.
In addition to geotechnical investigation during
construction stage, adequate and timely rock
Completed portion of the tunnel
mass support during implementation is also
equally important for safe and timely execution of
the works.
Project construction schedule should consider
unforeseen geological conditions during
tunnelling in Himalayas.
Selection of proper tunnelling equipment for
normal and specialized operation should be
available for use for timely completion of project
with safety.
Arrangement for advance technology like pipe
roofing, pre- grouting should be available at
site to cope with any unforeseen and adverse
geological conditions.
Skilled manpower is a key aspect of any works
but more so in underground works where past
experience counts a lot to execute the work safely
and efficiently.
Hardships of working in remote areas with
unfriendly weather conditions including
underground situation are well recognized by the
management and staff/ workers. Accordingly they
are highly encouraged to keep up the quality with
utmost safety.
17 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 Construction of
Desilting Chambers
F or the first time L&T is constructing Desilting
Chambers (an underground structure) at
Parbati Hydroelectric Project in the Himalayan
region. Rivers flowing from the Himalayan ranges
normally carry lots of silt due to high velocity of the
river water. In power generation, if the silt is allowed
to enter the turbine, the turbine blades are likely
to get scoured resulting in costly maintenance.
Desilting Chambers are thus constructed to
prevent the formation of silt particles.

In Parbati Hydroelectric Project, the Desilting

Chambers are designed to remove sediments
of particle size 0.3 mm and above. To flush the
silt, Desilting Chambers are provided with 2 Silt
Flushing Tunnels of size 2.0 m x 2.2 m which Scope
combine together to a 3 m x 3 m size D-shaped • Under ground excavation : 180000 cu.m
Silt Flushing tunnel back into Sainj River. • Rebar : 3200 t
Two Dufour type 250 m long Desilting Chambers • Lining concrete : 41000 cu.m
having a width 12.2 m and depth 22.5 m are
constructed downstream of intake tunnels. A,
D-shaped Adit of size 6.0 m x 6.5 m, has been built
Methodology
for facilitating the construction of Intake Tunnels Construction Sequence
and upstream portion of Desilting Chambers. The The construction sequence involved the following
same Adit branches into another construction Adit operations:
leading to the center of Desilting Chamber at its
Pilot drift excavation & side slashing – The first
bottom to facilitate construction.
pilot drift is excavated from construction Adit to

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 18


Desilting Chamber by using conventional Drill Blast
Method. Drifts of both Chambers are excavated in
parallel. The sequences of activities carried out for
the excavation included:
Side slashing excavation was taken up after the
completion of Pilot drift by conventional drilling
& blasting method and rocks supported by rock
bolts, wire mesh and 100mm shotcrete in two
layers.
Concrete Lining of the Chamber portion - A
structural steel gantry of length 7.5 m was
fabricated and erected for concrete lining of the
Desilting Chamber. A scissor platform was erected
well in advance for carrying out the reinforcement
work followed by concreting. The concrete was
conveyed by transit mixers and pumped in by
concrete pump.
Bench excavation in stages - After the completion
of chamber concreting works, contact grouting
with low pressure was carried out to fill the cavities
around the concrete. The 12.0 m deep bench
excavation was carried out in four benches each
of 3 m depth by using conventional drilling and
Gantry for concrete tunnel lining in desilting chamber
blasting techniques. Then the rocks were supported
by rock bolts, wire mesh and shotcrete.
Lining concrete wall - L&T Formwork & Scaffolding
was used for shuttering and platform. Necessary
reinforcement was laid well in advance and the
concrete was conveyed by transit mixers and
placed in position using a concrete pump.
Excavation of hopper portion was carried out
from the bottom Adit of the Desilting Chamber by
conventional Drill Blast Method.
Lining of hopper portion – After excavation was
completed, concrete lining work commenced from
invert, wall and then this was taken to the slope
portion. L&T formwork and scaffolding were used
for the concreting.
Achievements
Enlargement of Desilting Chamber Crown
achieved on 10th Aug’07 against scheduled 14th
Sep’07 i.e. 35 days ahead of schedule.
Lining of Desilting Chamber Crown achieved on
23rd Feb’08 against scheduled 14th May’08 i.e. 81
days ahead of schedule.
19 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 Construction of Cut-Off Wall
A dam is rarely constructed on a perfectly
water tight ground mass, there is (nearly)
always underground water flow. The discharge
of this seepage while affecting the pressure also
endangers the exit gradient and the performance
of the structure itself, besides affecting the
profitability of the dam on the whole. Considerable
developments have taken place during the last few
years to prevent the aforesaid problems and the
cast-in-situ diaphragm wall technique has been
successfully adopted to construct watertight curtain
walls. This is due principally to the possibility of
adjusting the composition with different types of
filling materials.
For the first time, Cut off wall construction using
trench cutter technology has been adopted by
L&T at Parbati Hydroelectric Project. A cut off wall
is a type of subsurface vertical barrier constructed
by backfilling a trench with a mixture of cement,
bentonite, coarse aggregate, sand and water. Cut
off walls are typically constructed using the slurry
trench method. This involves excavating a narrow
trench that is stabilized during construction by
filling the trench with bentonite slurry. The method
is used to construct cut off walls and structural
diaphragm walls as well as soil-bentonite cut off
walls. As the excavation proceeds along one
end of the trench, the other end of the trench is
backfilled with plastic concrete after clearing
State-of-the-art equipment in operation for the construction of cut-off wall
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 20
working bentonite with fresh bentonite and Q/C
tests. The bentonite from the slurry combines
with the natural fines of the cement and creates a
cement bentonite backfill that has a low hydraulic
conductivity.
Construction Sequence
Geotechnical Investigation
In addition to initial investigation holes, six more
core holes were drilled with continuous coring to
fine tune the estimation of the bed rock level.
In general, the rock mass encountered in and
around dam site is made of Metavolcanics with
subordinate bands of chlorite schist and chloritic
phyllite.
Pre-grouting treatment
To consolidate the ground to safely construct the
cut off wall, Odex drilling and Tube-a-manchete –
permeation grouting was done on both sides of
the proposed cut off wall area.
Guide Wall
Throughout the stretch of the cut off wall
connecting both banks of the river, L&T has
constructed an RCC guide wall. This has been
done as a guide for the Grab & Cutter and also to
aid the tremie concreting.
Panel Sequence Trench Cutter Monitor

Panel layout has been earmarked as Primary 2.8 m
and Secondary 2.2 m considering an over cut of 30
cm on the already completed Primary panels. Both
primary and secondary panels were excavated in
one single bite of 2.8m long. When two adjacent
primary panels were filled with concrete and
adequately aged the grabbing of secondary panel
was started in between using the same procedure
as done for primary panels.
Trench cutter monitor is used to display the vertical
and horizontal deviation in both X and Y direction,
the load applied on the cutter wheels and the
rotation speed.
Chiselling
A specially designed heavy chisel was used to
advance trenching through boulders encountered
during trenching.

Pre-excavation Rock Socketing

Mechanical grab type excavator has been used
for pre-excavation in Clay core portion, before
commencing the actual cutting work. This 10m
long guided mechanical grab is 1.0 m deep and
2.8m wide. Suspended by ropes, the grab is
operated by crawler crane.
Confirmation of bed rock was certified jointly by
Geologists of L&T & NHPC and a minimum of
500mm penetration was achieved in bed rock
before terminating the panel.
Koden Test

Bentonite Management Construction of large structures today requires

foundations with much greater bearing capacity
Bentonite slurry was used for trench stability.
than in the past. While large and deep bored piles
Due to bouldery & highly permeable ground, the
or cut off walls are used, the quality control of
management of bentonite was a crucial aspect.
these subsurface structures depends purely on
Preliminary tests were carried out to define the best
certain characteristics like trench size, alignment,
composition bentonite slurry. The bentonite slurry
and verticality. Engineers should evaluate the
was prepared by mixing the bentonite powder to
quality condition of these parameters to ensure
the water in a high speed mixer.
the quality of the Trench profile.
After hydration, the bentonite mud was delivered
Koden equipment was used to test the actual
to the tanks for bentonite storage tanks. Bentonite
deviations of wall from the planned alignment.
slurry was circulated between trench and storage
tank through mud pump, booster pump and
desanding plant.

De-Sander

De-sanding equipment comprises of a series

of vibrating screens to remove sand, gravel and
hydro-cyclones to remove silt from trench slurry.

Trenching
Hydromill type trench cutter, 1.0 m deep,
2.8 m wide and 11.4 m tall mounted on Crawler
crane with inbuilt electronic system to monitor
the performance of cutter during the time of its
operation was used. While the cutting wheel’s
of the cutter, cuts & mides with bentonite shurry
and a power mud pump bring the cutting to
DG sanding plant.

Pre-grouting works

21 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 Cut-off wall Highlights

Max. Depth of Panel 46 m from+1300m level

Thickness of Wall 1000mm

Soil trenching area 3200 sq.m.

Rock trenching area 200 sq.m (approx.)

Embedment in bedrock 0.50m (min)

Type of overburden soil Bouldery alluvial deposit

Boulders Gneissic and Quartzitic

Bed rock type Chloritic schist with

bands of chloritic phyllite

Compressive Strength 74.19 MPa

(perpendicular to
foliation) Quartz boulders
up to 165 MPa

RBM Boulders, pebbles and

cobbles of intrusive and
metamorphic rocks with
silty clay/sand Trench cutter in operation

Permeability 10-1 - 10-5 cm/s

Bed rock depth Elevation: 1295-1254m

Desander for Bentonite management

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 22

Plastic Concrete Achievements

As per the technical requirements, a plastic
concrete mix was designed and manufactured
with strict quality control to the entire satisfaction
of client.
Tremie Concreting
Concreting of the trenched panel was done by
tremie method by which the concrete was poured
under bentonite slurry without any mixing of
concrete and bentonite slurry.
• 1283 sq.m trenching in rock in the month
of May 08 which surpassed international
benchmark productivity levels.
• Job completed 150 days ahead of schedule –
Mile stone no.6
• Appreciation letter from NHPC for the mile
stone achievement
• Total accident free operation
• Complied with all quality standards and all
panel reports got approved.

Monitoring

A very close monitoring of the entire cut off wall

execution was systematically done through
• Daily activity logging
• Daily quality control tests on Bentonite
• Koden Test
• Q/C tests on Plastic concrete (Internal &
External).
• Monitoring rock level

Chiseling

Tremie concreting

23 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 Construction of
Rock-fill Dam
P arbati Hydroelectric Project Stage III is situated
on River Sainj. The Rockfill Dam is under
construction at an elevation of 1302m above mean
Construction of Diversion Tunnel

Before commencing the construction work on the

dam project, the flow of river had to be diverted
sea level, 3 km from village Sainj in Kullu District
from the main dam area. For this purpose, it
of Himachal Pradesh. This is the second Rockfill
was proposed to divert the river through two
Dam in India after Dhauliganga in Uttranchal
diversion tunnels at the right bank of the dam.
having a plastic concrete cut-off wall. Following
The tunnels were of 6.75 m finished diameter,
are the salient features of the dam:
horseshoe in shape having a length of 391m and
440m respectively. They were designed to carry
Salient Features
a discharge of 800 Cumecs (Cubic meter per
• Length of the Dam including spillway - 218 m second) of water. Each tunnel is provided with an
• Base Width - 168m inlet structure having three gates namely service,
emergency and stop log gates for regulating the
• Top Width - 10m
flow of water.
• Height of the Dam - 43m
A letter of appreciation was issued by NHPC for
• Quantity of Impervious core - 76000 cu.m
achieving the river diversion with adverse weather
• Quantity of rock fill - 2.64 Lac cu.m conditions and heavy rains.
• Quantity of transition & filter material - 1.03 lac
cu.m Construction of upstream and
downstream cofferdam
• Reservoir capacity - 166.79 ha-m
After diversion of the river, upstream and
• Length of reservoir - 1.05 km
downstream coffer dams were constructed. This
• River bed Level - 1290 m was required to completely dry up the river bed
• Full Reservoir Level - 1330 m so that the excavation work can be taken up. The
upstream cofferdam prevented the water from
• Length of Cut-off wall - 117 m
spilling over to the construction area and the
downstream coffer dam prevented the backwater
MAIN DAM to seep through. The height of upstream coffer
1333.00 10.00
DAM AXIS
dam was 15m and downstream coffer dam was
1
2
1.75
5m. Curtain grouting was carried out through the
1

1320
1320.00
7.50 5.00
1320.00
coffer dams to further increase the impermeability
of the coffer dams. The coffer dam consisted of
2
1 1313.00
5.00 Clay 5.00
1313.00

1310

2
3B
3A 3A 3B
1.75
1
central impervious clay core followed by filter zone
1 3C

1300
2A 2B 2A
3C
1300.00
rock fill and riprap.
0.5 0.2 0.2 0.5
1
NSL 1 1 1

1290
1
1.3 1
1.3
1
2A
Construction sequence of Rockfill Dam
1286.80 CUT OFF TRENCH
5.76

1280 Construction of rock fill dam involved the

following sequence of operations:
1270 1.0m. THICK CUT-OFF WALL

• The entire area of the dam required clearing,

stripping, and trimming to commence the
1260 ROCK LINE

foundation work, followed by excavation for the

? ?

1250

168.55
trench along the line of the cut-off wall.

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 24

Diversion tunnel inlet Diversion tunnel outlet

• Construction of the cut-off wall. Achievements

• Consolidation and curtain grouting. • Deployment of equipment achieved on
schedule.
• Embankment placing may be performed
• River diversion achieved on schedule
simultaneously or as an independent activity
on the cut-off wall • Diaphragm wall completion 150 days ahead of
schedule.
• Placing the embankment fills up to the level of
• Placement of 2,00,000 cu.m of Rockfill material,
foundation of the parapet wall.
Graded material, Clay Filling and Riprap
• Construction of the parapet wall along the dam achieved 301 days ahead of schedule.
crest.

• Placing of remaining fill materials on the dam

crest, up to specified camber levels.

• Installation of surface targets.

Construction of
rock-fill dam in
progress

25 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

Allain Duhangan
HEP – L&T’s endeavour at the
highest altitude of 2750 m
K. Sridharan
Corporate Communications Department
HQ-Chennai

Head regulator
A llain Duhangan Hydroelectric Project (ADHP)
is a 192 MW run-of-the river hydro- electric
project coming up at the confluence of Allain and
Duhangan rivulets at Prini Village in Manali Town
of Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. Located at
2750 m above mean sea level, this project can
aptly be called as L&T’s project on top of the world
for its high altitude. No project of L&T has been
executed on such a high altitude, though it has
worked on many projects in the Himalayan ranges
in different locations.
ADHP consists of a high-head power plant that
utilizes a combination of glacial melting of the
snow during summer and rain waters during
monsoon months – both fed from the catchment
basins of the Allain and Duhangan rivers to the
power station through tunnels.
This build-own-operate project is owned by Allain
Duhangan Power Company Limited (ADPCL),
which is jointly owned by Statkraft Norfund Power
Steel rib for HRT
Invest AS (SN Power, Norway) and LNJ Bhilwara
Group.
Valued at Rs.116 crore, L&T is executing two
packages at the project, which involves Package
I – Construction of Barrage, Desilting Chamber,
Spillway and Reservoir. Package II - Construction
of three Adits and Head Race Tunnel.
According to Mr. Subrata Das, Construction
Manager, L&T, the scheme of the project envisages
utilisation of flows from two streams viz., Allain and
Duhangan by means of separate water conductor
system, which is a D shaped concrete headrace
tunnel of length 3850 m. Both of these HRTs leads
to a common pooling point, the surge shaft from
where a pressure shaft takes off leading to the
powerhouse and thereafter discharging through a
tailrace tunnel to a suitable location.
There is an intermediate storage reservoir of live
storage capacity of 2.24 lakh cu.m capacity, which
27 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

Site establishment and P&M during the snow fall - a tough working condition
will be fed through headrace tunnel from Allain
diversion barrage.
The highlight of this project is that the entire
construction work with complete infrastructure
facilities are built on steep terrains of the
Himalayas. Indeed, "Himalaya" means "abode
of snow" and hence snow and cold temperatures
are characteristic of high mountain areas and no
exception to ADHP.
To approach the project, one has to pass through
Manali town and take the highway to Leh. From
Manali town, it takes about one hour to reach
the project by road and ascend steep terrains,
negotiating several sharp curves and narrow
stretches of the newly formed road by the project
authorities. While it was a terrifying experience
to ride on these roads and dizzying heights to
reach the project, the sight of the beautiful snowy-
white Mountain stretches, bluish sky with silky
white clouds and the meandering Beas river with
its sweet humming sound, the astounding and
awe-inspiring views of yawning Kulu and Manali
valleys with green patches of vegetation, tall pine
and cedar trees together with biting cold makes
one totally forget the problems and enjoy the
idyllic beauty of the nature, which is characteristic
of the Himalayas. At the same time, even if one
could find some inhabitations here and there, the
population is very sparsely distributed in view of
the tough living and climatic conditions.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 28
Mr. Das said “A special project of this kind has
its own peculiarities and perils associated with it,
however, the operating company has to encounter
and overcome these problems and turn them
to our own advantage”. While there are several
logistic problems, L&T faced many other critical
problems in executing this special project mainly
due to its geographical location and extreme
climatic conditions.
Snow fall
Being an avalanche prone area, working conditions
were very tough (touching subzero temperature),
specifically for three months during January to
March, when there will be a 7 feet cover of snow.
During this period, he said “No major work takes
place and the site experienced minus 10 degree
Celtius during February 2008”. During this period
the site remains cut off with rest of the world
because of road blocks due to heavy snow fall.
Maintaining the Plant & Machinery during extreme
cold climate is yet another critical aspect. All
equipment have to be cleared off snow and start
the engine at every three hours interval in order to
see that the engine doesn’t get seized.
Tyres of Heavy equipment have to be fitted with
chains so that this doesn’t slip and jerk during
movement. Snow Cutters & Dozers were pressed
in to action to clear the snow on the road for better
visibility and smooth passage of vehicles.
On-site camp
In view of the remote location of the project, staff
colony and workers’ camps are provided on-site with
mess and recreation facilities for ease of operation,
faster mobility, better control of work fronts and
retreat. Unlike the normal accommodation at
regular sites, Allain Project called for on-site staff
quarters and worker colonies, built with special
materials such as thermo insulated roof and walls
to withstand the extreme climatic conditions. This
consists of three layers – the outer corrugated GI
sheet, the middle thermocole panels and plywood
on the inside. In addition, room heating devices
were provided for each unit to keep them warm.
46 staff and nearly 700 workmen were employed
during peak.

Staff colony and worker camps are supplied
with piping hot water for all purposes as the cold
lines gets frozen due to freezing temperature. A
full fledged dispensary with a registered medical
practitioner was also made available in the camp for
24 hours to take care of the medical emergencies.
Warm clothing, snow boots including bedding
and woolen blankets are provided to all staff and
workmen for keeping them warm and fit.
An on-site canteen for workers and a mess for staff
met the culinary requirements and provided them
the needed succor for thought and action. As a
matter of abundant caution and preparedness, all
essential food items were procured and stocked
in the provisional store well in advance to meet the
long term needs.
In general, it is said that due to active tectonic
movement and dynamic monsoon, the rock mass
in the Himalayan region is relatively weak and
fragile and hence predicting rock mass quality
and analyzing the stress induced problems, in
particular is found to be an extremely difficult
task during planning stage. In practice, L&T also
encountered considerable discrepancies between
predicted and actual rock mass conditions.
Surmounting all these difficulties, L&T completed
several activities ahead of time like the river
diversion through under sluice in rainy season,
completing and making a breakthrough in tunnel
excavation and concrete lining of the tunnels which
are in advanced stage of completion.
Value addition
All these unprecedented and unforeseen
activities made every staff and workmen undergo
insurmountable amount of pressure and tension
as they had to meet the schedules within budget
and cost and at the same time withstand the forces
of nature and expose themselves to working at
high altitudes, extreme cold and snow as well
as rains, etc. Though they were almost buckled
under terrible pressure, certainly they were not
broken, but they have taken these elements as
opportunities in disguise for learning of a different
kind and value addition to similar projects in the
future. In other words all these problems are
considered as prospects for working in similar
environment to build a better tomorrow.
SALIENT FEATURES
1. HYDROLOGY
• Catchment area at barrage Axis : 128.9 sq.km
• Design Flood
– 50 year return flood period : 662.0 m3/sec
– 100 year return flood period : 730.0 m3/sec
2. DIVERSION BARRAGE
• Type : Gated
• Maximum water level : 2752m
• Number of Spillway bays : 2
• Width of each bay : 10m
• Number of Under sluice bays : 2
• Width of each under sluice bay : 5m
• Dimension : 95.62m X 90.95m X 29.30m
3. HEAD REGULATOR
• Number of Bays : 4
• Design Discharge : 22.6 m3/sec
• Dimension : 55.8m X 33.8m X 21.5m
4. DESILTING ARRANGEMENTS
• Number of Desilting Basins : 4
• Flushing Velocity : 4.5 m/sec
• Design Discharge : 31.0 m3/sec
• Dimension : 80m X 38.5m X 14m
5. INTERMEDIATE STORAGE RESERVOIR
• Live Storage : 224000 m3
• Full supply Reservoir Level : 2748m
• Minimum Reservoir Level : 2733.5m
• Type of Retaining Wall : RCC Structural Wall
• Plan Area : 18902 sq.m
• Wall Height : 13m
Entire floor area was water proof, done with geo membrane
6. OVERFLOW STRUCTURE
• Width of Crest : 25m
• Level of Crest : 2748m
• Design Discharge : 31.0 m3/sec
7. ALLAIN HEAD RACE TUNNEL
• Size and Shape : 3.4 m Diameter
(Circular Shaped)
• Length : 3844m
• Design Discharge : 22.6 m3/sec
• Velocity : 2.19 m/sec
29 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 Singoli-Bhatwari HEP
- small step for a giant leap
“If you want to feed a hungry person,
give him food. If you want to feed a
Generation Sow a Seed !”
-A Chinese Proverb
It needs vision and tremendous courage to think
and plan for future and particularly to build a
hydroelectric project and that too on ownership
basis, in a remote corner on the Himalayan hills.
While addressing a gathering of L&T-ites and
customers of L&T on the occasion of the 70 year
celebration of L&T and the birth centenary of
Henning Holck-Larsen at Mumbai on December
21, 2007, The Union Minister, Mr.P. Chidambaram
said “L&T is unique, it is not Public Sector, it is not
Private Sector, it belongs to the National Sector. It
is a company of the people of India ”.
In tune with the words and true to the spirit of
the statement made by the Union Minister, L&T
Adit 1 portal construction in progress
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 30
has ventured into the hydel sector to tap the
environment-friendly and everlasting hydro electric
potential for the benefit of the country, and for the
benefit of the people of India.
Singoli-Bhatwari Hydro Electric Power Project,
a 99 MW run-off-the river- scheme across river
Mandakini in Rudraparayg District of Uttarakhand
is the first hydro electric project to be implemented
by L&T on Build-Own-Operate & Transfer (BOOT)
basis.
In this, it has accepted the challenge of setting up
a benchmark in delivering to the nation a quality
project on time with quality.
The Government of Uttarakhand, or “Dev Bhumi”
as it is fondly called by all, has entrusted this
project to L&T for implementation. L&T has
formed an SPV in the name of “L&T Uttaranchal
Hydropower Limited” for speedy execution and
effective implementation of the project.
Whereas the L&T Infrastructure Development
Projects Limited (L&T-IDPL) is managing the
overall implementation of this project, the Hydel
Business Unit (HBU) of ECC, L&T’s Construction
Division in Chennai is executing the construction
of this project.
Singoli-Bhatwari Hydro Electric Project (SBHEP)
is located at an elevation of 1000 m above MSL,
25 km from Rudraprayag on the National Highway
NH-109 towards Kedarnath.
The project involves construction of a Barrage -
54m long x 29.250m wide x 21.500m high above
river bed, consisting of 5 bays each of 8 m clear
span and fitted with radial gates to regulate flood
discharge.
The Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the barrage is
at EL 1017m and the top of the barrage including
free board is fixed at EL 1020m.
The barrage, on its downstream side, will have an
apron of size 54m length x 45m width x 3.5m
thickness.
The clear water is then passes through gate
arrangements and fed into the intake pool -
42m x 42m and then through the intake gate
chamber of size 16m (L) x 15.5 (W) x 20.5m (H)
which channelises the discharge of 59.6 cu.m into
the Head Race Tunnel (HRT).

The diversion of the river will be handled in two

stages for constructing (a) the Barrage and (b)
Desilting chambers & Intake respectively. Thus,
the diverted water, will take the 11.230 km long
journey through a 4.77m, D-Shaped, concrete
lined Head Race Tunnel.

In order to construct the HRT, three adits have been

proposed, first one near the Barrage site, second
one near Damar Nala crossing and the third one
near Dangi Nala crossing. These adits will give
four faces of simultaneous working. Maximum 70m span steel bridge across river Mandakini
length of tunnel section to be excavated from the
Adit will be 3.20 km and this will form the critical
segment in HRT construction.

The alignment in the last segment of the tunnel

after Adit-3 is so modified now to avoid passing
of tunnel under an existing village, to allow for the
sentiment and apprehension of the villagers.

The HRT ends at the bottom of a Surge Shaft of

size 10m finished DIA x 103m high, tapering to
5m dia x 35m high. This open to sky shaft, helps
in relieving the water pressure, in case of opening
and closure of turbines at powerhouse end.

The water from HRT is then allowed to travel

through steel lined Pressure Shaft with the vertical
portion of shaft having a dimension of 3.8m finished Another view of the steel bridge
dia x 125m height and horizontal portion having a
finished dia of 3.8m x 284m length, constructed
This energy is fed to the State grid from an open
through the hard rock on the hills, and ending up
Switchyard of size 150 m (L) x 65 m (W), to be
as three penstock manifolds, entering the Surface
constructed near the Power house.
Power House, which has a dimension of 53m (L)
x 17.6m (W) The Hydro-mechanical works of this project
involves erection of 5 Radial Gates at Barrage and
Thus, between the Barrage and the Powerhouse,
Trash-rack including gate structures at Intake Pool
an hydel energy of 186m net head is being built
entrance, at Intake structure, and the bulk-head
up. This energy head is unleashed on vertical
gate at Surge shaft including 3 sets of Gates at
shafts having three Francis Turbines of 33 MW
Draft tube outlet in Powerhouse. Total tonnage of
capacity each, embedded in the Powerhouse sub-
all the above structures will be 950 tonnes.
structure, which gives necessary rotational power
to the Rotors of the Generators. On an average Hydro-mechanical works also involves fabrication
estimate, this project can produce 474 million of 1307 tons of steel liner of 3.8 m for Pressure
units of energy in an 90% dependable year. Shafts made of SAILMA 450 HI grade with thickness

31 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 varying from 16 to 28 mm. In addition, 614 tons of
SAILMA steel will be used for steel liner under the
Dangi Nala portion and Soft tunneling of HRT.

The construction schedule prepared by L&T

envisages 44 months for completion of the project
and all works relating to HRT is on the critical
path. L&T is already gearing up appropriate
tunneling methodology, mobilizing men, material
& machinery including planning and development
of skilled workmen to handle the works.

During the course of construction, L&T is bound to

encounter several challenges.

Construction of the Barrage poses challenges of

taming the mighty Mandakini and the monsoon,
the Head Race Tunnel works and other below
ground works like Pressure shaft and Surge Shaft
poses greater challenges in dealing with the virgin
Dangri road to Adit 3 under construction
unpredictable geology of the Himalayan terrain.

Damar road, which leads to Adit 2 under construction

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 32

Logistically, this project also faces the challenge of
dealing with the limited Highway of Uttarakhand,
which is either prone to landslides during monsoon
or full of pilgrims during the normal season.
Geographically, the project is dispersed to a
stretch of 15 km on left bank highway and another
10 km stretch of roads across river Mandakini to
reach Adit sites.
The quantum of works involved in the project can
be assessed from the following table.
Quantities of Major Works
Description UOM Qty.
Excavation cu.m 7,41,148
Backfilling cu.m 1,50,188
Concreting cu.m 2,34,281
Reinforcement tons 4,736
Structural Steel tons 1,201
SFRS cu.m 10,710
Formwork sq.m 57,529
Rock Bolts RM 1,18,270
Grouting t 3,013
Dewatering kWH 40,02,230
Pressure vessel Steel
(SAIL MA 350) t 1,921
HM Steel Structures t 950
This quantum needs to be seen in conjunction with
several logistical constraints. These are further
compounded by other man-made challenges
like local unrest by villagers and other hurdles for
dealing with land acquisition and other statutory
clearances etc.
Unfazed by the problems or pressures and with
unremitting efforts, L&T has already obtained major
clearances like Environment, Forest, DPR, NOC
from Pollution Control Board, Explosive Magazine
License, Diesel Dispensing Unit, License for using
river borne materials for aggregate production and
stacking etc in a short span of time.
Moreover, in parallel, it has mobilized the
manpower and machinery resources right at site,
and is progressing with the required infra works
like Roads, Buildings, Project Camps etc for
beginning the main project works on time. About
600 workmen of various skills and categories need
to be mobilised from external and local sources.
Significant achievements made at the project
include:
• Construction of box culvert on NH-109 which
serves as the portal for Adit-1 and completion
of Adit-1.
• Construction of 2 km long Damar road leading
to Adit-2 on the other side of river Mandakini,
with the associated protection works, cross
drainage works and 19m span steel bridge
across Damar Nala near the Adit-2 portal
• Construction of 70m long span steel truss
bridge across river Mandakini.
• Construction of 2.7 km long road at Dangi,
which will be further extended by 1.3 km to
access Adit-3.
• Construction of Project camps to accommodate
568 workmen at three different locations viz.
Sansari (184 persons), Damar (200), and Phalai
(184)
• A Staff Camp at Giwadi Gaon to accommodate
32 families and 50 bachelors has been
completed. Construction of a guest house in
the same campus for the visiting staff is under
progress.
• Completion of Main Stores, P&M, Quality and
Safety offices, etc at Chandrapuri.
• Completion of Explosive Magazine building at
Damar.
• Commissioning of a 50 TPH Crusher Plant
at Damar and 30 cum/hr Batching Plant near
Barrage site are in advanced stage.
L&T has already tied up with financial institutions/
agencies and all frameworks are ready for achieving
financial closure and initiation of necessary fund/
cash flow. L&T has also started the process of
tying up with various industries and agencies for
marketing the sale of power in future.
Design & Engineering are being carried out by
L&T’s in-house team at EDRC and reviewed
by MWH, USA. Already the process of vendor
selection and finalization for Hydro-mechanical
and Electro-mechanical works on back-to-back
basis have been set in motion.
L&T’s team is very enthusiastic in building the first
power plant on PPP basis.
33 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
Tapovan
Vishnugad HEP
with TBM technology
K. Vijaya Bhaskar
Project Manager

Aerial view of the site showing the batching plant and other infrastructure facilities
created on tough terrains of Himalayas
L arsen & Toubro & Alpine Mayreder Bau GmbH,
Austria, are jointly executing the challenging
“Head Race Tunnel” Package of Tapovan Vishnugad
Hydro Electric Project (TVHEP) awarded by NTPC
Limited in November, 2006. TVHEP is a Hydel
Power Project with installed capacity of 520 MW
(4 X 130MW).
The scope of Head Race Tunnel Package involves
excavation of 11.50 km of Head Race Tunnel and
Three Adits of total length 1.25 km. Adits are to be
excavated using Drill Blast Method and Excavation
by Roadheader. 3.50 km of Head Race Tunnel is to
be excavated using mainly Roadheader or need
based Drill Blast Method depending upon the
geological conditions. 8 km of Head Race Tunnel
is to be excavated using Tunnel Boring Machine
(TBM). The finished Dia. of Head Race Tunnel
will be 5.60m and the excavation Dia is 6.20m.
Excavation of Tunnel using TBM in Himalayan
Geology is a very challenging assignment and
what is more challenging than the tunneling work
itself is the transportation of the TBM to Project
Site located at an elevation of 1820m above Mean
Sea Level.
The site is located in Joshimath, one of the towns
of Chamoli District in Uttranchal. Joshimat is a
town on the greater Himalayan Mountains on
National Highway 58. From the project location
the holy Badrinath shrine is just 40 km away.
Tunnel boring machine
During the Badrinath Yatra season (May to Oct),
there will be heavy traffic on this narrow hilly
road. Complete traffic movement takes place only
during day time as night traffic is not permitted.
The Road distance from Delhi to Joshimath is 506
km. The nearest city from the project is Haridwar
and Dehradun. From Delhi, Haridwar is 229 km
away and Haridwar to Joshimath is 277 km. The
entire stretch between Haridwar to Joshimath are
dotted by holy towns such as Haridwar – Rishikesh
Deoprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Gauchar  –
Karnprayag – Nandpryag – Chamoli – Pipalkoti –
Joshimath. From Rishikesh to the Project Site it
is a hilly terrain involving a climb of over 1500m.
While the condition of the road is fairly good up to
Rudraprayag, it is very bad beyond this point with
very narrow stretches and high gradients.
Double Shield Hard Rock Tunnel Boring Machine
ordered from Herrenknecht, Germany (in the
Month of February 2007) will be used for the first
time for a Hydel Power Project in India. The L&T-
AM JV Team had around one year leeway for
preparation of transportation arrangements for
the machine, scheduled to be shipped by January
2008 and reach site by April 2008. Various agencies
were contacted for transportation of TBM, but few
turned up for accepting the challenge. Ultimately,
J M Baxi & Co.(the Clearing & forwarding agents)
came forward and took up the challenge and
35 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 completed the transportation successfully with the
help of J C Motors Transportation Company. The
heaviest and biggest piece of Machine was Cutter
Head, circular in shape with Diameter of 6.50m
and weight of 101 tonnes. Bringing this in single
piece to project site was a next to impossible task;
keeping in view, the road conditions and hilly
terrain.
Route Survey (Rishikesh to site)
NH-58 “Raiwala (12 km. short of Rishikesh)
Rishikesh bypass – Tehri – Badrinath Junction –
Laxman Jhula – Kandiyala – Devprayag – Bhagwan
– Rudraprayag bypass – Karna Prayag junction –
Chamoli – Helang – Tapovan – Vishnugadh Power
house – Selang Junction – Selang L&T site involved
an approx. distance 267 km. The road clearance
and overhead clearance restricted to 3.20m width
and 4.2m height due to rocks protruding towards
the road.
Two months before commencement of the
transportation of TBM, liaisoning was done with
the local authorities and all permits were obtained
before the actual transshipment.
To overcome the biggest challenge in logistics, ie,
transportation of TBM from Mumbai Sea Port to
project site, L&T-AM JV made separate teams for
proper coordination, and for unloading the TBM
consignments properly at site, which had severe
space constraint.
The transport team escorted all the major
consignments from Rishikesh to Project Site
tackling many hurdles on the way and successfully
completed the transportation of TBM by May 6,
Moulds inside the
yard
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 36
2008, just one day before starting of Yatra Season
at Badrinath. The consignments were transported
during night as there was heavy traffic during the
day time which can disrupt the movement of the
trailers. However, the road improvement team
tackled the hurdles such as civil works (Widening
of road, strengthening of bridge, etc.) at various
critical points.
With difficulties, this giant machine crossed all the
hurdles and reached the project site safely without
any major incident, a day before commencement
of Yatra Season. This was a grand success for the
project team at site and everyone greeted each
other with utmost joy and happiness writ large
on their glowing faces. Amidst excitement and
thrill this also brought a great sigh of relief as it
was the culmination of challenging and painful
labour of almost a year. Ever since the machine
was ordered continuous efforts were made by
the planning and execution team at the project
to ship and transport the machine to India. The
consequence of something untoward happening
during the transshipment could delay the project
schedule drastically which would be a big
commercial risk for the performance of the project.
Also, transportation of such a big consignment
during Yatra with traffic jams and monsoon season
with landslides on a hilly terrain like this could
have increased the difficulties manifold. To ensure
alround safety and also mitigate the very many
risks, necessary protective measures were taken
well in advance. TBM with all back-up systems
was successfully commissioned in February 2009
and the tunneling activity is progressing at a faster
pace.
Infrastructure
for Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project
L &T is currently executing the Contract of
Construction of External Access Road to
Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project, on Engineering,
Procurement and Construction basis for the
sawalkote Hydro Electric Project in the Ramban
District for Jammu & Kashmir State Power
Development Corporation.
L&T's scope of works include
• Survey, design and engineering
• Site clearance, earth work, pavement, slope
protection, retaining structures, drainage &
cross drainage works, road furniture
• Construction of 10m wide and 18.50 km road
• Road at the right bank of river Chenab
• Construction of two major steel girder bridges
and two minor bridges
• Bridge across river Chenab
• Construction of 500m long Tunnel
Quantum of work
Road
Excavation in soil : 5.48 lakh cu.m
Excavation in rock : 9.82 lakh cu.m
Earth work in filling : 0.950 lakh cu.m
Pavement Works
Granular sub base : 0.24 lakh cu.m
Crushed run macadam : 0.22 lakh cu.m
DBST : 0.04 lakh cu.m
Concrete for road and bridge : 5512 cu.m
Structural steel : 1520 t
ViaSys, Sweden are the basic designer and
Construma Consultancy Pvt Limited are the
consultants for this Project. L&T Ramboll is the
Design Consultant and the Engineering Design
and Research Centre is also actively involved.
The contract for the construction of the only access
road to the Hydropower project commenced in
November 2004. As the project is located in a very
remote, isolated and highly militancy prone area,
there was delay in the initial period. After proper
security cover, the work started moving at good
Speed. Adequate and proper men and machines
are being deployed for hassle-free execution.
With all the quality checks, tests and meticulous
planning and reviews, the work at this project is
fast moving towards the completion.
Road construction
work in progress
Caption
37 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 Kuttiyadi
Hydroelectric Project

M.V. Ramachandran
Project Manager

Head Race Tunnel

K erala State, which lies almost at the Southern
tip of Western India, occupies a narrow strip
of land between the Arabian Sea on the West and
the Western Ghat ranges on the East. The state of
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu lies on the North-East
and on the South-East respectively.
South-West monsoon bless Kerala from June
to middle of August, while North-East monsoon
from September to end of November. The period
between December and middle of May is generally
dry and the months between March and April
experiences hot summer.
Kuttiyadi River takes its origin on the Western
slopes of the Wynad range of hills at elevations
915 to 1065m above MSL. After its initial run in a
North-South direction, the river takes a sharp turn
towards west and the Kuttiyadi dam is constructed
in a little upstream of the bend. The catchment
area above the dam site is 39 sq.km. The area
comprises mostly of thick virgin forests except for
a stretch of abandoned cardamom plantation. The
catchment area is roughly rectangular in shape
and this lies in a North-East direction.
The Karamanthodu locally known as
Churanipuzha originates on the Eastern slope
of Wynad hill ranges. It flows in a North-Eastern
direction and joins Vennayotpuzha, a stream
running parallel to Karamanthodu in the upper
reaches to form the Panamarampuzha, tributary of
Kabini. The catchement area of the stream at this
dam site is 54.4 sq.km and this consists of mostly
private and forest lands with patches of cultivated
lands.
The existing Kuttiyadi Reservoir has a live storage
of 33.98 million cu.m. against inflow of 210 million
cu.m. Due to the very limited storage at Kuttiyadi
Reservoir, the water spills at Kuttiyadi Dam during
Monsoons. The existing Kuttiyadi Extension
Scheme (1x50 MW) is mainly built for utilization of
the spills for power generation in a separate Power
House.
With the completion of Kuttiyadi Augmentation
reservoir which has a live storage of 186.25 Million
cu.m against an inflow of 438 Million cu.m there are
plans for additional Power generation. However,
construction is underway for an economical
installation 100 MW (2x50MW) hydroelectric
Project Highlights
Project : Design, Build, &
Turnkey Execution of
2x50MW Additional
Extension Scheme
of Kuttiyadi Hydro
Electric Power Project
Client : Kerala State
Electricity Board
Contractor : BHEL - L&T
Consortium
Contract Value : INR 16241.30 Lakhs
power plant. This scheme will be constructed as an
annex to the existing Kuttiyadi Extension Scheme
1x50 MW and 3x25 MW Schemes. By this a total of
225 MW continuous generation can be achieved
during peak hours for the non-monsoon period.
Water from the powerhouse is fed through Tail Race
channel and 3x1.25 MW is generated with this tail
race water, located at end of tail race channel.
Kuttiyadi – A Trailblazer
Up above the high rugged hillocks and amidst
meandering ghatways and verdant rain forests
is perched the The Kuttiyadi Hydro-Electric
Power Project – one of Kerala’s multipurpose
projects. With an installed capacity of 125 MW,
it is considered a power hub that supplies much
of Kerala’s power needs in addition to aiding
irrigation. Here, ECC - the Construction Division
of L&T, is engaged in the design, engineering and
execution of all civil and hydro-mechanical works
for the 2x50MW Additional Extension Scheme.
When completed, the project will achieve a total
225MW continuous generation during peak hours
for the non-monsoon period.
This is the first EPC Hydel Project bagged by
L&T in Consortium with BHEL against Global
Competitive Tender on LSTK Basis. The scope of
work involves engineering by EDRC and execution
of all civil & hydro-mechanical works by Hydel &
Nuclear (H&N) OC and design, engineering and
execution of all Electro-Mechanical works by
BHEL.
39 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 Penstock erection
Salient Features
Key parameters & scope of work
Installed Capacity : 2x50MW
FRL : +757.72m
MDDL : +743.00m
Sill Level of Intake : +738.00m
Max. Discharge : 21.50 cu.m/sec.
Power House Runner Level : +91.75m
Avg. Gross Head at Powerhouse : 658m
Civil & Hydro-mechanical Works (by L&T)
Intake structure shaft : 4.65x2.60x19m; approach channel
and trash rack structure
Head race tunnel : Horseshoe shape, 3.0m DIA finish,
692m long
Surge shaft : Circular-5.0m DIA finish, 74m deep
Low pressure penstock : Tunnel: 2.40m DIA; Liner: 2m DIA;
87m long
Butterfly valve chamber : 12m x 9m
Penstock track : 10m Wide-Track, A. Blocks & RG.
Supports
Powerhouse : 32m x 22m x 20m
Tail race channel : 8m x10m x 80m
Hydro-mechanical works : Intake gates, trash rack panels &
DT. Gates Penstock OD-2.05 m
x 2160 m long, thickness varies
from 12- 46 mm of Grade ASTM
A537 Cl.1 & ASTM A517 Grade F.
Total Quantity: 3200 tons
Approach roads to structures : 5 km.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 40
Major Quantum of Works
Description Unit Quantity
Open Excavation
a. Soil cu.m 246200
b. Rock cu.m 102300
Underground Excavation cu.m 8600
Back Filling cu.m 23300
Concreting cu.m 28300
Reinforcement t 1200
Shuttering sq.m 37250
Structural Steel t 210
Penstock & Specials t 3200
Gates & Trash Racks t 75
Electro-Mechanical Works
(by BHEL)
Turbines are made of vertical shaft Peloton Wheel
Turbine having 500rpm, 70000HP rating and 56.60
MW output. BHEL is also supplying Generator,
Power Transformer,Auxiliary Mechanical &
Electrical Equipment including the Outdoor Switch
Yard Equipment - 110kV
In spite of the several uncertainties and problems
faced in the project, L&T went on executing the
project with high quality standards. This has won
the hearts of many project authorities which are
reflected in their appreciation letters for achieving
many milestones and breakthroughs:
• Tunnel Break through with precise alignment
• Fabrication of Penstocks & specials with high
quality standards
• Blasting operations – Safety & Methods
adopted
• SCC – Usage of Technologically advanced
techniques
Super Passage Channel at Varahi HEP
T he river Varahi takes its birth at a height of
730m in the Western Ghats at Hebbagilu, near
Agumbe in Shimoga District. It joins the Arabian
• Steel penstock
branching off to 5 nos
individual penstocks
Sea near Kundapur. After a 25 km initial run, this • Power house on right
swift and powerful river falls 455 m in cascades to bank of river Varahi
form the bellowing Kunchikal falls. accommodating 5 units
of turbines
The Varahi Hydro power project is a small
containment run-of-the river project of 22.5 MW • Tail race channel
installed capacity, comprising 3 units of 7.5 MW crossing Super passage
each. It is located on lower reaches of western joining river Varahi &
scarps of Western Ghats in the Udipi District of other allied civil works.
Karnataka near Hosangadi village in Kundapura
Super Passage Channel Completed portion of
Taluk. Sandur Power Company Limited (SPCL),
during Flash Floods the passage channel
Bangalore, are the owners of the project.
During the execution of the project, while connecting
The project generates approximately 120 GWh
the power house and trail race, one perennial nulla
of electricity per annum and sells it to Karnataka
was intercepting at different elevations. Due to
Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL)
early on-set monsoon, the execution of the super
through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
passage could not be carried out as per initial
ECC was awarded two packages at this project schedule, even though this structure was under
viz., Construction of Civil and Appurtenant works critical path for the commissioning of the 22.5MW
and Head Race Tunnel by M/s Sandur Power Hydro project.
Company of value INR 459.2 million. The project
Super Passage Channel consists of an RCC
consisted of Diversion Weir, Approach Channel,
structure, which had a dimension of 15 m x 24 m x
Intake Structure, Head Race Tunnel with three Adits,
11 m height, perpendicular to Tail Race Canal and
Surge Shaft, Penstock Tunnel, Power House, Tail
this involved construction of 12 circular columns
Pool, Tail Race, Super Passage, River Regarding
of 600 mm dia, supported by continuous beams
and Rapids. This Project work, which began in
on longitudinal directions and slabs of thickness
October 2002 was completed in all respects in 25
300 mm with walls on adjacent sides having stubs
months including two monsoon periods.
on both sides. The RCC walls of the Tail race canal
The major components of this project are: were of 12 m height and they were constructed
• Diversion weir across river Varahi about 40m using M20 concrete.
downstream of confluence of Underground
The continuous flow of flash floods during the
Power House Station tail race channel.
season necessitated the construction of the Super
• Approach channel just downstream of VUGPH
passage by using innovative construction methods
tail race on right bank of river to divert water to
to cast the RCC columns and suspended formwork
HRT through intake structure
for the casting of RCC beams, slabs etc. In fact ECC
• Straight tunnel intake structure to HRT from
successfully executed the structure undeterred
diversion weir to regulate flow of water into the
and braving against the flashing floods of over
HRT
11m high tail race water. In addition, the concreting
• Horseshoe shaped, HRT from intake up to
of the super passage pier was done under water
surge tank with concrete lining
after the bed was cleaned of accumulated silt and
• Surge tank at ridge point slush with the help of divers using tremie pipes.
• Penstock tunnel with concrete lining taking off The total process of construction was completed
from surge shaft within 30 days.

41 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 K a l eid o sc o pe
New
Ne
w O r der
Rs 1450 crore Orders in
s
Buildings & Factories Segment
L &T’s including add on orders from on going
works at its airport projects.
The orders for construction of IT & Office space
buildings have been received from major players
around the country including TCS & Godrej
Developers Private Limited .
These orders enhance the order book of the
Company which had secured major design-&-build
orders in the airports, IT Parks and commercial
space and L&T has a significant market share in
these segments.
Another Rs 5000 crore
Orders in Buildings &
Factories Segment
L &T’s newly formed Buildings & Factories
Operating Company – part of its Construction
Vertical – has bagged several large-value orders
aggregating to around Rs.5000 crores in the
second quarter of 2008-09 for the construction of
a slew of institutional, commercial, residential and
factory buildings.
The orders have been received from major
players around the country including NESCO
Limited, Godrej Properties Limited, PBEL Property
Development (India) Pvt Ltd, Om Prakash
Jindal Grahmin Jan Kalyan Sansthan and Mahi
Cement.
These orders boost a growth trend that earlier
saw the Company securing major design-&-build
orders in the airports, IT Parks and commercial
space.
L&T has been engaged in virtually all the modern
airports in India that have been built or are
under execution including those at Hyderabad,
Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.
Rs 937 crore EPC Orders in
Water Business
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 42
Orders
L &T has bagged three major orders aggregating
to Rs. 937 crores during September and
October 2008 in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.
An EPC water supply project of value Rs. 582
Crores was bagged by L&T from Hyderabad Metro
Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB)
under prestigious Godavari Drinking Water Supply
Project Phase-I. The project involves construction
of trunk mains of MS pipe for 58 km to bring
735 Million Litres per Day (MLD) treated water
to Hyderabad city. The contract period is of 24
months.
Two EPC projects from Delhi Jal Board valued at
Rs. 355 Crores were secured by L&T. The project
envisages design, providing, laying, jointing,
testing and commissioning of MS twin-pipeline
from Bawana to Dwaraka (Package 1A) and design
& construction of 20 Million Gallons per Day (MGD)
water treatment plant (WTP) at Okhla. This WTP
will have clarifloculator, flash mixer, filters, pre-
sedimentation tanks as major units along with the
intake system. Both projects are to be completed
in 21 months.
Rs. 1,372 crore Orders from
Metallurgical Sector
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured major orders
aggregating to Rs. 1,372 crore from various
customers like Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Utkal
Alumina International Limited and Bhushan Steel
Limited.
L&T has secured an order valued Rs. 516 crore
from Vedanta Aluminium for setting up of a 3 million
tonnes per annum (MTPA) alumina refinery at its
Lanjigarh plant in Orissa. The scope involves civil,
structural, tanks, equipment erection, piping and
commissioning assistance for the alumina refinery.
The project is to be executed in 20 months.
L&T has also secured order valued Rs. 455 crore
from Utkal Alumina International for setting up of
1.5 MTPA green field alumina refinery at Doraguda
near Rayagada in Orissa. The scope involves civil,
piling, structural and tanks for the alumina refinery.
The project is to be executed in 24 months.
In an another development, L&T secured an order
valued Rs. 401 crore from Bhushan Steel for civil,
structural, equipment erection and piping for
its Phase-III expansion at Angul in Orissa which
includes setting up a Steel Melt Shop and Coke
Oven. L&T is already executing the other orders
of a 3,800-cubic-metre blast furnace and 2x204-
square-metre sinter plants for Bhushan Steel for
Phase-III.
These orders, from major producers in ferrous
& non-ferrous sector in the metallurgical field,
portray the enormous confidence the industry has
in L&T’s expertise in engineering, construction
and project management.
L&T-Scomi to Build India’s First
Monorail System
A consortium led by Larsen & Toubro with
Scomi Engineering Bhd, Malaysia has bagged
a Rs. 24.6 Billion (Rs. 2460 Crore) order from
the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA) to implement the country’s
first Monorail System in Mumbai.
Larsen & Toubro is India’s leading Technology,
Engineering & Construction Company and is a
premier builder of infrastructure projects in India
with track record of successful implementation of
several large turn key projects. Scomi Engineering
is one of the world’s top three monorail
manufacturers, and offers urban transportation
solutions by providing the latest monorail electro-
mechanical systems and rolling stock.
The project involves Designing, Constructing,
Installation, Testing & Commissioning and
Integrated Testing including Train Trail with initial
Operation & Maintenance from Gadge Maharaj
Chowk (Jacob Circle) to Wadala (approx. 11 kms)
and Wadala to Chembur via Mahul (approx 9 km)
corridor on a Lump Sum Turnkey (LSTK) basis.
The Monorail will have 18 stations enroute. The Ne
w O r der
s
project is to be completed in a tight schedule of
30 months.
The Straddle type Monorail System complies with
the highest international standards of safety and
reliability. It is a modern urban transport system
where the cars move on a single beam in an
elevated corridor. The design makes it possible to
execute the project on a fast-track as it requires a
small foot- print and facilitates implementation with
minimal demolition of structures. Other advantages
include greater reliability, high manoeuverability,
lower cost and an eco-friendly design. These
factors make Monorails an attractive option for
Mumbai where land is a scarce resource. The
Monorail also helps in negotiating sharp curves
and can handle gradients up to 6%. The Monorail
is a quiet system with sleek exteriors, and air-
conditioned cars, adding to commuter comfort.
This will be the first Monorail System in India and
is expected to ease the congestion in the highly
crowded Jacob Circle, Wadala and Chembur area.
The monorail will provide interconnectivity to the
existing sub urban railway (Mahalaxmi and Lower
Parel Station of Western Railway, Curry Road,
Dadar & Wadala Station of Central Railway, etc)
and forthcoming Metro Rail as a part of multimodal
transport system and on being commissioned will
be a boon to the citizens of Mumbai.
Rs 1100 crore Orders in Buildings
& Factories Segment
L&T’s Buildings & Factories Operating Company-
part of its Construction Division- has bagged
add on orders aggregating around Rs 1100
crores in the third quarter of 2008-09 from its
ongoing developmental projects like mixed use
developments at Chandigarh, Darley Road Tower
in Sri Lanka, Airport Hotel at Bangalore and add
on works at its airport projects.
These orders further enhance the order book of
the Company which had already secured major
design-&-build orders in the airports, IT Parks and
commercial space. L&T has a significant market
share in these segments.
43 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 L&T Oman Bags Construction
Orders Valued at Rs. 1198 crore
Larsen & Toubro (Oman) LLC, one of the leading
Ne companies in the field of engineering and
w O r der
s
construction in the region has secured major
orders cumulatively valued at Rs. 1198 crores
(USD 245 million), against stiff international
competition. The orders cover construction of
a hotel and apartments for the 2nd Asian Beach
Games, a mosque and underground cabling.
The 2nd Asian Beach Games complex is being
developed by Oman Tourism Development
Company - the government of Oman’s tourism
development, and its investment arm. The
project comprises construction of a hotel, marine
apartment buildings, administrative buildings
for the Games and an athletes’ village. All these
projects are scheduled to be completed in less
than two years.
Engineering, Cost and Project Management
Consultants for the project are M/s W.S. Atkins,
NWS International and Faithful+Gould. The
mosque being built by L&T Oman is developed by
a reputed business group of Oman. It embodies
Omani architecture and is poised to change the
skyline of Oman. The project is scheduled for
completion within 35 months.
Underground Cabling works from Oman Electricity
Transmission Company (OETC), comprises
replacing a portion of 220 and 132 KV Overhead
lines in Muscat Governorate with Cabling works of
Performance for the quarter ended December 31, 2008
Sales grow by 35% - 216% increase in overall PAT - PAT from normal operations grow by 25%
G ross Sales of Larsen & Toubro Limited for
the quarter ended December 31, 2008,
at Rs. 8700 crore, has grown by 35% over the
corresponding quarter of the previous year.
Despite an environment of tight liquidity, cautious
investment in the Oil & Gas and the Core sectors,
and a general slowdown in domestic infrastructure
spending, the Company has been able to secure
fresh orders totaling to Rs. 14620 crore during the
quarter, exceeding the order inflow of Rs. 13019
crore achieved during the same quarter of the
previous year when the economic climate was
significantly better.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 44
60 Km to be completed in 18 months. Mott Mac
Donald is the consultant for the project.
Larsen & Toubro (Oman), a joint venture of Larsen
& Toubro Limited and the Zubair Corporation, has
a strong presence in Oman, and across the last
decade has emerged as a leading construction
company of Sultanate of Oman.
Two New Hydro Electric Power
Project Orders
Infrastructure Operating Company of ECC has
recently bagged two new orders worth Rs.1544
crores. The first contract valued Rs.299 crore
is to execute 330 MW Shrinagar Hydro Electric
Power Project in Pauri Gharwal District,
Uttarkhand for Vertex Projects Limited. Scope
of work include construction of main dam, water
body-canal (Part 1 – desilting basin), surface
power house and head race tunnel and entire
work will be completed in 36 months.
The second contract valued Rs.1245 crore is to
execute the concrete gravity package for 1200
MW Punatsangchhu-1 Hydro Electric Project in
Bhutan. This MC1 contract package involves
construction of diversion tunnel, dam, intake
and desilting arrangement including hydro-
mechanical works will be completed in 66
months.
The Company is well on its way towards
consolidating its overseas presence, as reflected
in its share of Sales from international business at
18.5% for the quarter. Profit before Interest and
Tax from normal operations for the quarter ended
December 31, 2008, at Rs. 1009 crore, has risen
by 37%, when compared with the corresponding
quarter of the previous year. The Company has
reported Profit after Tax at Rs. 604 crore from
normal operations during the quarter, recording an
increase of 25% y-on-y, after absorbing a higher
incidence of borrowing costs.
On a overall basis, Profit after Tax for the quarter
ended December 31, 2008 at Rs. 1520 crore, which
included an extraordinary gain of Rs. 916 crore
(net of tax) from the sale of the Company’s Ready
Mix Concrete business, grew by 216% y-on-y.
For the nine month period ended December 31,
2008, the Company’s Sales at Rs. 23468 crore
grew by 41%, and Profit after Tax from normal
operations at Rs. 1567 crore went up by 30%, over
the corresponding period of the previous year.
Including extraordinary gain from sale of Ready
Mix Concrete Business, the Profit after Tax for the
nine month period ended December 31, 2008
stood at Rs. 2483 crore, a growth of 106% y-on-y.
Engineering & Construction Segment
Bucking the current industry downturn, the
segment has bagged healthy project orders during
the quarter, reaffirming the Company’s leadership
position in turnkey project execution, infrastructure
and capital goods sectors. The segment Order
Inflow, at Rs. 13379 crore registered a growth of
17% over the corresponding quarter of the previous
year. The segment revenues for the quarter at Rs.
7633 crore grew by 54% y-on-y.
Cumulatively for the nine month period, the
segment Order Inflow at Rs. 34126 crore rose by
36% and segment revenue at Rs. 19165 crore
grew by 51% over the corresponding period of
the previous year. The Segment Order Book as
at December 31, 2008 stood at a record high of
Rs.67029 crore, providing visibility to the growth
trajectory of the segment’s performance in the
medium term. The share of International orders
in the Order Book as on December 31, 2008 was
15%.
For the nine month period, the segment has been
able to sustain its margins at the same level as
realized during the corresponding period of
the previous year, despite pressures of input
cost increases witnessed during most part of
this period. This was possible due to suitable
escalation clauses in a majority of its contracts
with the customers, and on-time execution of the
projects.
Electrical & Electronics Segment
The Segment posted revenue of Rs. 647 crore for
the quarter, marginally exceeding its revenue for
the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
This was achieved despite a severe credit crunch
and deferment of expenditure by the Building and
Industrial sectors, which adversely impacted the
demand for the segment’s products & services.
Export efforts were stepped up during the quarter
to supplement the sluggish domestic demand,
boosting the share of international sales to 18%.
The segment profitability for the quarter was under
strain due to lower volume, under-utilization of
capacity and competitive pressures prohibiting
higher price realization.
Machinery & Industrial Products Segment
The Segment reported a drop in revenue at Rs.
529 crore for the quarter ended December 31,
2008 severely impacted by a sharp drop in capital
expenditure by the Indian Industry, especially the
Construction sector. Low fund availability in the
hands of the prospective customers worsened
the situation. The segment also saw a drop in
margins primarily due to squeeze on end-product
prices and under-recovery of the fixed costs. The
performance of the segment on the export front
was encouraging with exports touching 23% of its
total revenue for the quarter.
Outlook
The Indian economy is going through a
challenging phase during the current financial
year. While the year began with a spurt in oil prices
and high inflationary conditions, the current trend
indicates a slowdown in the economy. Despite
the best efforts of the government to shore up the
investment climate, the capital goods industry is
expected to grapple with the impact of slowdown,
which is likely to continue through 2009-10. The
Company is constantly assessing the emerging
developments in the country and abroad, and
monitoring their impact on its growth strategy
in the medium term. The Company’s foray into
the new Railway business has resulted in a few
important order inflows, with more prospects on
the anvil. Its renewed venture into Power business
also holds significant potential. Its current initiatives
on building a business opportunity in the nuclear
power sector, are likely to bear fruit over the longer
term. In the near term, the Company expects to
meet its growth projections backed by a healthy
Order Book.
45 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 W o rksh o ps / S emi n ars
s
Challenges in Civil Engineering
wo

ar

ks i
n
r

ho m
p s/se
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) inaugurated
its Chennai Chapter by organized guest lectures
on Challenges in Civil Engineering on August 30,
2008. Mr. K. V. Rangaswami (KVR), President
(Operations) and Member of the Board, L&T and
Dr. A. Ramakrishna (AR), Former Deputy Managing
Director, L&T jointly inaugurated the chapter and
kick-started the activity by lighting the lamp in the
presence of special invitees.
Dr. B. S. Sarma, MICE, Country Representative –
Chennai, invited all the members and briefed the
initiatives taken by ICE to promote professionalism
in civil engineers through various programmes.
KVR emphasized the need for HR initiatives, soft
skill improvement and innovation and creativity in
civil engineers to do challenging jobs.
The keynote speakers Dr. N. Lakshamanan,
Director, Structural Engineering Research Centre,
Chennai and AR addressed the gathering on the
theme “Challenges in Civil Engineering” They
elaborated the importance of civil engineers in
the scenario of extreme growth in construction
industry.

Civil engineers play a vital role in addressing

From left to right: Dr. N. Lakshamanan, Director, Structural
Engineering Research Centre, Chennai; Dr. A. Ramakrishna,
Former Deputy Managing Director, L&T; Mr. K. V. Rangaswami,
President (Operations), L&T and Dr. B. S. Sarma, MICE,
Country Representative – Chennai during the seminar
the issues like availability of land and good
construction materials, tackling natural hazards
and pollution standards, awareness of green
house construction practices, management of
explosive growth problems in urban cities, limited
understanding of new building materials and very
limited availability of skill manpower for execution.
Only with advanced structural analysis, design and
construction practices and through the partnership
of engineers, industry and government, these
key issues can be resolved systematically, they
added.

Four technical papers presented on

innovation in electrical works
Mr. Somayajulu, a M.Tech Engineer from IIT in IEEE’s website www.
Delhi, has made a research on “Power Quality ieeexplore.ieee.org
Improvement in Commercial Buildings using
He has also presented a
Custom Power Devices” and submitted the
thesis on “Application of
three “Technical Papers” on the subject to IEEE
a DSTATCOM, a Custom Power Device and a
(Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers),
special kind of transformer (Zig-zag Transformer)
the world's leading professional association for the
to compensate for the Power quality problems
advancement of technology. The papers, which
in Commercial loads” at the BIS Conclave held
were well appreciated and accepted by IEEE was
on August 30, 2008. ECC Concord wishes
presented by Mr. Somayajulu in the technical
Mr. Somayajulu to continue his innovation and
conference “TENCON 2008” held at Hyderabad
findings.
on November 19, 2008. All the papers are hosted

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 46

Workshop on precast technology in housing and infrastructure
I

s
CE - Chennai Chapter in association with Asian platforms, the use of Precast Prestressed Hollow

wo

ar
Concrete Construction Institute - Singapore core slabs, Industrialized method of construction ks i

n
r
ho m
and Larsen & Toubro Limited, ECC-Division for industrial buildings, Hong Kong Housing p s/se
organized a workshop on “precast technology in Projects & Japanese Construction Management.
housing and infrastructure – a global scenario”
Former Deputy Managing Director of L&T. Dr. A.
for urban development during September 24–26,
Ramakrishna, explained chronologically about
2008 at ECC Convention Centre, Chennai. The
the development works and application of precast
workshop provided an opportunity to discuss
technology adopted by L&T in various projects.
various innovative precast technology adopted for
He has stressed the need of taking forward the
infrastructure development in different countries.
precast technology in future with good detailing
The faculties of the workshop discussed in length practice which should be simple, efficient and
about how India is poised for huge infrastructural durable.
growth and so more in buildings, factories and
All the delegates visited L&T’s R&D Centre
infrastructure projects. The workshop focused more
to understand various on-going R&D works
on housing sector and the multi-storied buildings
applicable in the construction of different concrete
concept and precast concrete technology,
structures. At the end of the workshop, in the
demonstrated in countries like China, Honk
panel discussion, salient points were analysed
gong and Singapore to provide mass housing.
and it was concluded that it is the time ripe for
This technical workshop focused on precast
India to revive precast technology.
technology and its application in development of
urban housing and infrastructure. Dr. B. Sivarama Sarma, Head - R&D, L&T and ICE
Country Representative - Chennai organised and
The workshop has drawn the attention of many
co-ordinated the entire event for ICE.
senior executives and managers from L&T and
other companies in construction business. There
were about 20 technical sessions spanning two
and half days. Mr. K. V. Rangaswami, Patron, ICE
Chennai Chapter inaugurated the workshop and
released the workshop proceedings.

Prof. Devdos Menon and Dr. V.V. Nori, respectively

enumerated the fundamentals of materials,
structural members and the innovative precast
structural configurations which, were applied since
1960’s in the construction of various industrial and
infrastructures facilities in India.

Other eminent speakers from Asian Concrete

Construction Institute, Dr. Alfred A Yee, Dr Tony Chi,
Poul B Mork, and Tan Wee Teck have conducted
the workshop sessions covering various topics
like PC Modules; PC Drawings; PC Economy; PC
Components and Finishes; PC Colombo Example
Architecture and Structure, Design considerations
of composite precast and prestressed concrete
From left to right: Mr. K. V. Rangaswami, President
structures in seismic areas, Basic fundamentals,
(Operations), L&T and Dr. B. S. Sarma, MICE, Country
fabrication, erection, devices, connection details
Representative – Chennai and Mr. K.P. Raghavan,
and with sample structures, Ocean Thermal
Executive Vice President & Head (Divisional Corporate), L&T
Energy Conversion; Marine concrete barges and
during the inaugural day of the seminar

47 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 Technical Paper on Underground LPG Storage Project
A technical paper entitled “A SUMMARY ON FIRST INDIAN CAVERN”
on Underground LPG storage cavern project at Visakhapatnam
was presented by Mr. S. Elangovan (DP BU - HQ) at World Tunnel
Congress (WTC) 2008 held at Agra during September 19-25,
2008.

This WTC 2008, organized by International Tunneling and

Underground Space Association (ITA) and Tunneling Association
of India (TAI) was the 34th in the series and held for the first time
in India.

The paper co-authored by Mr. K. Vijayabhaskar (HN BU – Topovan

Vishnugarh HEP) and Mr. K.S.R.K. Verma (HN BU – Faridabad)
highlighted the construction sequence, environment and safety
aspects. The presentation made Mr. S. Elangovan on September
23, 2008 was well received and appreciated by the international
delegates.

Twin Recognition
Dr. K. Natarajan, Head – Engineering (TLRE Sector), has been invited
by College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai, to serve
as member in Syllabus Committee for revising the curriculum and
syllabus of regulations 2009, for the PG programmes in M.E.(Structural
Engineering) and M.E. (Construction Engineering & Management).

He has also been invited to join the Board of Studies of Hindustan

University for a period of two years (2008-10). The board is responsible
for framing curriculum and syllabus for undergraduate/postgraduate
Engineering programmes.

ISO 9001: 2008 for MMH&W Operating Company

The Metallurgical, Material Handling & Water
(MMH&W) Operating Company of ECC has
qualified for ISO 9001:2008 Certification. Lloyd’s
Register Quality Assurance Limited (LRQA)
conducted the Quality Management System
(QMS) audit.
MMH&W OC of ECC is third in India to qualify for
LRQA’s Quality Management Systems certification
for the 2008 version.
The QMS certificate is applicable to Strategic
Planning, Marketing, Tendering, Engineering,
Project Management, Management Information
Systems and Project Execution of EPC and
Non-EPC projects, Turnkey and Non-turnkey
projects, Human Resources, Health, Safety and
Environment, Plant & Machinery, Procurement,
QA/QC, Testing, Commissioning and Maintenance
during the warranty period till December 28,
2011 at the following business units and covers
their operations in Headquarters and the cluster
offices.
• Minerals & Metals
• Bulk Material Handling
• Water & Effluent Treatment
This is a major step towards ‘attaining Global
Benchmark’ and accomplishing the vision of
excellence in Quality Management System.

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 48

 P r o j ect News
ro
Chandrayaan-1 Launch Successful

s
je c t N e w

P
L&T-made Equipment Engaged in Launch & Tracking

I ndia’s first mission to the moon was successfully

launched from the Sriharikota Space Port. India's
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C11 placed the
1380 kg Chandrayaan-I Spacecraft in an elliptical
orbit.

While this is a historic moment for all Indians, it is a

special occasion of pride for L&T-ites as the Heavy
Engineering Division (HED) has been closely
involved with this effort.

Launch

The 44.4-metre, 316-tonne PSLV-C11 was rocketed

into orbit using S139 Motor Casings (Middle
segments MS58, MS60 & MS63) manufactured at
the Aerospace Shop of HED.

Electronic packages are mounted on upper stage

of PSLV-C11 and Heat Shield using honeycomb
deck panels. These honeycomb deck panels
are manufactured at L&T’s Advanced Composite
facility at Ranoli.

Tracking

The spacecraft is being tracked using a Deep

Space Network Antenna at ISTRAC's tracking
facility near Bangalore. This 32 m dia antenna was
installed and commissioned by HED-Aerospace.
The Antenna Mount Structure and 13m-diameter
Bull Gear (made for the first time in India) were
also manufactured by HED-Aerospace.

PSLV-C11 was tracked by C-Band Precision

Monopulse Tracking Radar developed
indigenously by HED-Weapon Systems &
Sensors, up to a range of nearly 1300 km for 380
seconds. This radar was recently commissioned
at Satish Dhawan Space Centre-Sriharikota
and included in the Radar Tracking Network.

L&T-made radars performed the best among all

the SHAR radars.

49 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 L&T Knowledge City Vadodara’ Inaugurated
M r. A. M. Naik, Chairman & Managing Director
– Larsen & Toubro, inaugurated ‘Knowledge
City’ - a state-of-the-art engineering campus
at Vadodara on January 2, 2009. Located at
Waghodia, near Vadodara, ‘L&T Knowledge City’
extends across a 112-acre campus. The state-
of-the-art engineering campus at Vadodara will
meet the high-end design and engineering needs
of the hydrocarbon and power sectors. In the
hydrocarbon space, it will cater to the needs of the
upstream, midstream and downstream sectors,
and in power, design support for complete
projects.
L&T expects to generate project exports revenue
of over Rs. 2000 crores within five years, and will
provide employment to 4000 - 5000 technical
professionals in next four to five years. The
new campus will leverage our nation’s strength
in engineering design, augment the country’s
technology base and will provide a cutting edge
to project-related businesses. As an integrated
campus, ‘Knowledge City’ will enable L&T to
extend and further develop its existing capabilities
in process engineering, product development,
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 50
mechanical design and analysis, process
evaluation and technology adaptation. The
facilities will provide a growth platform for a broad
range of knowledge-intensive businesses.
The master plan for the L&T Knowledge City
envisages a pioneering initiative in setting up a
‘Institute of Project Management’. The Institute
for Project Management will develop leading-
edge project managers across the domains
of engineering, procurement, construction
and manufacturing. The faculty will comprise
outstanding academics and project management
professionals.
L&T Knowledge City has been designed and built
to high environmental standards, incorporating
technologically advanced systems for rainwater
harvesting, waste-water management and the
effective utilisation of solar energy.
L&T’s achievements in high-technology areas have
won the recognition of national and international
professional societies and research institutes, as
well as leading trade and industry associations.
L&T Knowledge City, Vadodara
New Runway Commissioned for Delhi International Airport
L&T has completed Delhi airport’s third airstrip -
Asia’s longest at 4,430 metres and the trial run was
done on August 21, 2008.
An Air India aircraft touched down the new runway
without passengers. The runway lighting systems
are one of the most advanced in the world. A new
code F runway of 4.43 km is one of the longest in
Asia and it is equipped with CAT III B ILS.
The new runway has an advanced instrument
landing system, which allows aircraft to land
in visibility as low as 50 metres. DIAL upgraded
several new aircraft parking stands to meet this
standard.
Completed portion of the runway with inset approach lights at Delhi International Airport
The runway construction involved 2.3 million metric
cubes of earthwork and embankment filling. That
is enough to form a 210 km long freight train. The
runway is more than two metre thick, comprising
seven layers of filling, concrete-treated base and
over 650,000 tonnes of asphalt concrete. Eco-
friendly methods like fly-ash in concrete and other
cement-based material was used to construct
the runway and the taxiways. The new runway is
expected to nearly double the airport’s peak hour
capacity from 35-40 aircraft movements currently
to about 75. Currently, the two existing parallel
runways handle nearly 700 flights a day.
51 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
 L&T Opens Construction Skills Training Institute at Panvel
M r. K.V. Rangaswami, Member of the Board
& President (Construction) inaugurated the
new facility for Construction Skills Training Institute
(CSTI) at Panvel near Mumbai on January 28,
2009 by unveiling the insignia plaque amidst many
special invitees. Mr. J. Ganguly, Head - Divisional
Strategic Services, ECC declared open the hostel
buildings by cutting a ribbon.
“All Construction Companies including Larsen &
Toubro (L&T), the largest construction organisation
in India is facing this shortage of trained and
skilled manpower, which is plaguing the industry
as a whole,” said Mr. K.V. Rangaswami during the
inauguration function.
Recognising the risk faced by the industry due to
shortage of skilled workmen and to mitigate this
growing problem, L&T initiated necessary action
for skills development, way back in 1994-95 and
started the CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TRAINING
INSTITUTE (CSTI) in Chennai followed by Panvel
in Raigad District of Maharashtra, in 1996.
Subsequently, such Institutes were opened in five
other locations in 2005 – Bangalore, Ahmedabad,
Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
All these Institutes impart a structured system
of training through its modular training schools
with well defined infrastructure and curricula,
testing and certification. The entire programme
is accredited by National Council for vocational
Training (NCVT), New Delhi.
Going ahead CSTIs have trained more than 2000
candidates during 2006-07 and 3700 candidates
Mr. J. Ganguly, Head - Divisional Strategic Services
inaugurating the hostel building by cutting the ribbon.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 52
Mr. K.V. Rangaswami, Member of the Board & President
(Construction) unveiling the plaque during the inauguration of
Construction Skills Training Institute at Panvel near Mumbai.
during 2007-08 and L&T has set an ambitious
target of training 10,000 youth annually by 2010
by augmenting the infrastructure facilities in each
location.
In line with this thinking, L&T opened this new
facility at CSTI Panvel and dedicated this to the
nation in the interest of the Construction Industry
fraternity. Spread across 10 acres of land, this
new facility with all necessary infrastructure can
impart training to 400 youth at a time in various
construction skills.
Presently CSTI Panvel imparts training in the
following Construction trades and intends to add
more trades in a phased manner.
1. System Formwork Carpentry
2. Bar Bending & Steel Fixing
3. Masonry [ Brick works & Block works]
4. Welder [Structural]
5. Welder [Piping]
KVR highlighted and commended that no such
parallel facility exist of this kind in India. While also
mentioning that this facility would not only train a
pool of skilled workers - very much required for the
business and industry, he also highlighted this to
be a very good CSR initiative of L&T ECC.
He reiterated the 5 M’s that are required for any
project – material, men, money, machinery and
management. Emphasizing the intervention on the
men aspect – productivity of workmen was seen
as the critical issue. In order to improve this area it • Trainee screening hall
was found that in Singapore, one such good model • Library cum reading hall
existed there. With the help of the Henry Boot, UK • Conference room
team, who helped us with sound syllabus, this was • Staff room
initiated in Chennai which for all purpose was a
• Toilet blocks for staff and trainees
mother institution. In the recent past, creation of
• Open court yards
one CSTI centre at each region meant taking right
steps in this direction, he added.
Hostel Building
Highlighting Panvel’s excellent facility he urged
Comprising of ground plus three stories (total
that this quantum jump in infrastructure – both in
built up area of 1930 sq.m - 20,700 sq.ft), the
terms of quality and quantity is worth emulating
hostel building can accommodate a total of 416
everywhere.
candidates. This consists of:
Earlier, Mr. M. Ramesh Mohan, Regional Manager • 1
 04 rooms on sharing basis for 4 persons in
(Mumbai) welcomed the gathering. each room
Mr. S. Natarajan, Head – CSTI made a brief • Warden room
presentation on the highlights of the facilities of • Office room
Panvel. • Toilet blocks in each floor

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Head of CSI, training faculties, • 148 seat capacity dining hall with kitchen
Regional Managers and other special invitees • Open court yards
including the project managers from Mumbai
Hostel
project sites participated in the inaugural function.
Building
They also spent time to address issues as well as
effecting the right steps so as to taking the right
initiatives for this trained youth to be inducted
into the main workmen stream, and to work with
the subcontractors at our own project sites. All
delegates also participated in tree plantation
session as a part of greening the environment.

Institute Administrative Building

C omprising of ground plus one storey (total

built up area of 1600 sq.m - 17000 sq.ft), this
building has facilities for all administrative and
Trade Practice – Open yards

To provide hands on experience training in

utility services involving:
systems formwork, bar bending & steel fixing
• 9 class rooms each of 32 seats
including masonry (brick & block works) a total
• Trade’s display hall of 10500 sq.m (1.13 lakh sq.ft) of open area has
been earmarked. This also accommodates 24 bar
bending work tables and 70 t of system formwork
materials to impart training in System Formwork
Carpentry trade.

Trade Practice – Covered sheds

There is a 680 sq.m (7300 sq.ft) area of covered

sheds with facilities for:
• Carpentry workshop
• Re bar cutting / bending workshop
• Welders training workshop
Institute Administrative Building

53 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 A wards
Structural Steel Design Award for Kensington Oval Stadium,
Barbados
I n the 40th Structural Steel Design Awards Dinner
2008 sponsored by the British Constructional
Steelwork Association, a commendation certificate
was presented for the roofing work done by us
at “The Worrell Weekes and Walcott Stand” at
Kensington Oval Stadium, Barbados. This was
the only project selected from outside of the
former British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and
Ireland)
The objective of the award is to recognize the
high standards of structural and architectural
design attainable in the use of British steel and its
potential in terms of efficiency, cost effectiveness,
aesthetics and innovation.
The Worrell, Weekes and Walcott Stand is the
largest and most ambitious structure and provides
seating for 4000 spectators in two radial tiers
surrounding the ground, as well as housing the
president’s suite and VIP boxes. The design
concept is derived from the necessity to provide
uninterrupted column free views of the cricket in
a light and comfortable atmosphere. The stand
combines reinforced concrete for the stand
structure with lightweight steel framing for the roof
canopy. The main canopy cantilevers up to 25m
The Worrell Weekes and Walcott Stand at Kensington Oval Stadium, Barbados.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 54
to prove drip line cover and shade to all stand’s
inhabitants, whilst maintaining column free views.
To achieve this, the canopy unites the radial grid
of the lower tiers with the orthogonal grid of the
box levels through the use of steel cantilevered
truss frames, which vary in depth in response to
the spanning requirements.
While awarding the commendation certificate for the
Kensington Oval Stadium, judges commented that
“This is a good planning response to updating this
hallowed cricket ground. It is gives an enhanced
sense of place in the town, whilst retaining much of
the former character. The design copes well with
the many issues of climate, function and economy.
The UK prefabricated steelwork addresses the
complex geometry and yet was constructed in the
relatively unsophisticated local built environment.
The challenges were answered well and the
internal work handled successfully.”
Mr. Miles F Weekes, Chief Facilities Development
Officer of World Cup Barbados Inc received this
certificate on L&T’s behalf at a function held at the
Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK on July
8, 2008.
Awards Galore for Best Safety Practices in Quarry Operations

T o give due recognition to outstanding safety

performance, Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India
instituted National Safety Awards (Mines) in 1983
Nadu – Kerala state Mines Safety Association
under the aegis of the Director General of Mines
Safety visited around 150 stone quarries in Salem
Awards

and during August every year on the basis of
outstanding performance, National Safety Awards
(Mines) are presented to various mines in different
zones.
Based on the best mining practices adopted in
terms of overall performance, supervision, welfare
and medical facilities to the workmen, handling,
usage & storage of explosives, safety measures,
etc., quarries were selected and awards are
presented. The safety inspection team of Tamil
Zone during August 2008 and evaluated the safety
performance.
Accordingly, two ECC quarries at Boothanahalli
and Karadidihalli attached to Krishnagiri - Thopur
Toll Road (KTRP) project in Tamil Nadu were
selected for awards in eight different categories as
follows:
The prizes were given away by Mr. B.P. Ahuja,
Director of Mines Safety, Chennai region during
the valedictory function held at Madhuker Mines,
Trichy on 31st August 2008.

Description Prize Quarries

1 Standard of Supervision First Karadidihalli
2 Standard of Supervision Second Boothanahalli
3 Welfare amenities & Medical facilities Second Karadidihalli
4 Blasting, Storage & Use of Explosives First Boothanahalli
5 Standard of Transport & Workshop Second Karadidihalli
6 Use of Personal protective equipments First Karadidihalli
7 Over all performance First Karadidihalli
8 Over all performance Second Boothanahalli

M/s Srinivas, Ravindran and Lakshminaryan receing the prizes from the Director of Mines Safety, Mr. B.P. Ahuja

55 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 ECC bags Two Awards at the 6th Annual
Construction World Awards 2008
• Largest & Most Profitable Construction Company in India (First Rank)
• One of India’s Top Ten Most Admired Construction Companies

O ne of India’s largest circulated construction

business magazines, Construction World,
honoured ECC, L&T’s Construction Division
with two prestigious awards for excellence in
construction.

Mr.V.B. Gadgil, Senior Vice President & Head

Electrical & Gulf Projects Operating Company,
received the Awards from Mr. Anil Deshmukh,
Minister of Public Works, Government of
Maharashtra at a glittering function held at Taj
Land’s End in Bandra, Mumbai on October 24,
2008.

Constituted by ASAPP Media, the Construction

World Awards recognized the exceptional work Mr.V.B. Gadgil, Sr. Vice President & Head (Electrical &
done by Construction Companies and felicitated Gulf Projects Operating Company) receiving the award
the achievers and industry leaders in the field. from Mr. Anil Deshmukh, Minister of Public Works, Govt. of
Maharashtra.

Overseas Prize for the Technical Paper on LPG Cavern

The Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers,
UK has conferred Overseas Prize Award for
the technical paper submitted on underground
LPG storage cavern project in Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh. This paper authored by M/s.
N. Raghavan, S.R.K.V. Kosuri, K.V. Bhaskar, P.
de Laguerie, P. Roux, P. Vaskou and A. Saint was
published in by Thomas Telford, UK in the journal
“Energy”.
The cavern in Visakhapatnam, India is one of the
world’s deepest and Asia’s biggest underground
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage project.
The paper highlighted the significance and
complexity of the facility, basic principles of
storage, engineering & design aspects, various
phases of construction work, quality, health, safety
and environmental aspects. The sequence and
methods adopted to construct diaphragm walls
for the fore-shafts, sinking for the rock-shafts,
installation of water curtain tunnel and excavation
for the main storage cavern are detailed in the paper.
Special features of the project like construction
methodologies, achievements, critical success
factors and advantages of having such projects
are presented interestingly with diagram, sketches
and photographs.

Mr. N. Raghavan, former Vice President & Head

(H&N), L&T received the award at a ceremony held
in the Great Hall at the ICE Campus at London on
Mr. N. Raghavan, former Vice President & Head (H&N), L&T receiving the award October 24, 2008.

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 56

ECC Wins the Ultratech Award for Technology Centre-II
(Building) of L&T Infotech, Chennai

T he Indian Concrete Institute (Tamil Nadu

Chapter) awarded the prestigious ‘Ultratech
Award for Outstanding Concrete Structure of
Tamil Nadu – 2008’ to ECC, for the design and
construction of Technology Centre (TC–II) of L&T
Infotech at ECC campus, Chennai.

The award which recognizes most outstanding

and innovative structures built using concrete was Mr.S. Kanappan, Vice
received by Mr. S. Kanappan, Vice President & President & Head
Head - EDRC during the concrete day celebrations – EDRC, B&F OC
in Chennai on September 13, 2008. receiving the award.
TC-II of L&T Infotech, Chennai was selected for
its unique state of the art technological features,
implemented for the first time in India, like the concreting in the construction of the large sized
use of self compacting concrete for the entire fin walls.
superstructure, expanded polystyrene blocks Amongst others, the concrete day celebration
embedded in prestressed concrete floor slabs was attended by leading Engineers, Architects,
to reduce dead weight and the use of bottom up Builders and Consultants.

Outstanding Concrete Structure Award for Passenger Terminal

Building at Hyderabad Airport
The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Rajiv
Gandhi International Airport has been recognised
as “Outstanding Concrete Structure of Andhra
Pradesh - 2008” by Indian Concrete Institute
(Andhra Pradesh Chapter)
L&T was felicitated with Certificate of
Commendation and a Trophy at a function held
at Hotel Grand Kaktiya on September 27, 2008.
Mr. A.K. Chugh, Regional Manager (Hyderabad)
received the award.

L&T has designed and built the PTB, which

can handle 12 million passengers per annum.
Dedicated futures of this seven-level integrated
PTB include unique concept of airport village,
130 check-in desks with CUTE and 16 self check-
in kiosks, 46 immigration counters for quick
processing, in-line baggage handling system
with level-4 security system - a first of its kind in
India. The total built-up area of the PTB is 1.17
million sq.ft and special features of construction
like Kalzip roof sheeting, temple leafs for tapping
natural light with great aesthetics and bull-nose Mr. A.K. Chugh, Regional Manager (Hyderabad) receiving
cladding surrounding was used. the award.

57 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 L&T Scores Hat-trick - Forbes Asia’s ‘Fabulous 50’
L &T has made it to the coveted Forbes Asia’s
‘Fabulous 50’ for the third year in a row.
Mr. R. N. Mukhija (President – Electrical &
Electronics), L&T received the coveted award on
behalf of the company at a glittering ceremony in
Shanghai on December 9, 2008.
Mr. R.N. Mukhija, President (Electrical & Electronics), L&T
(in the centre) with the award.
Chairman’s Rolling Trophy for ECC’s “IT EFFECTIVENESS”
Information System Department of ECC bagged
the First Chairman’s Rolling Trophy for “IT
EFFECTIVENESS 2008” formulated by L&T
Corporate IT. Nominations were sought from all
operating divisions and the evaluation was based
on Alignment, Value & Benefits, Risk Management,
Mr. B. Srinivasan, Head-ISD and his team receiving
the award from Mr. A.M. Naik, CMD, L&T
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 58
Forbes Asia’s Fabulous 50 is a selection of the
best of Asia’s biggest listed companies. Criteria
include long-term profitability, sales and earnings
growth, and projected earnings for companies
with revenues or market capitalization of at least
$5 billion. The list recognises the excellence of the
business models pursued by the companies and
marks them out as leaders in their fields.
Forbes is an American publishing and media
company with global coverage, and carries articles
on issues, trends, events and the personalities that
shape the business world today and will determine
the future. It is well-known for drawing up lists
based on several critical criteria.
L&T is one of just ten Indian companies to feature
on the ‘Fabulous 50’ list. The others are Bharat
Heavy Electricals, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, ITC,
Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance, Tata Steel
and Wipro (in alphabetical order).
Total Cost of Ownership, and Service & Support
on a rating scale of 5.
ISD-ECC emerged the winner for best “IT
EFFECTIVESS” for its various IT applications and
initiatives. Mr. Anantha Sayana, Head, Corporate
IT, in his congratulatory note to President
(Construction), Mr. K.V. Rangaswami mentioned
“Your support and the effective participation of
the business in all the IT initiatives of ECC is a key
factor for this success besides the great work that
Mr. B. Srinivasan and his team have done.”
Mr. A.M. Naik, Chairman & Managing Director,
L&T, presented the award to Mr. B.Srinivasan,
Head, ISD-ECC at a glittering function on February
9, 2009, in the presence of CMC members, senior
business leaders and IT teams from ODs.
The award further endorses ECC’s progress
and hard work in making EIP a success story in
achieving value to the construction business.
L&T is ‘Best for Investor Relations’: Asiamoney
L&T-ite voted ‘Best Investor Relations Officer’

L &T’s Investor Relations function has bagged

a double honour. Asiamoney, the prestigious
Hong Kong based financial magazine, recently
conducted a poll on corporate governance in which
L&T was voted the ‘Best for Investor Relations’ in
India, and Mr. Pramod Kapoor, General Manager,
Investor Relations, L&T as the ‘Best Investor
Relations Officer’.

Asiamoney is widely read by analysts, equity
fund managers and finance ministry officials
across Asia. Respondents comprising CEOs,
CFOs, research heads and other senior finance
personnel from leading Asian corporates were
asked to rank companies on a number of stringent
criteria including: companies that were the most
pro-active in enhancing their profile in the market;
the best in communicating with shareholders and
providing investor access to senior management;
and companies that have done the most to improve
investor relations over the last year. Respondents
were also asked who they considered the best
Investor Relations Officer in the country. Across
all these criteria, an overwhelming majority of
respondents voted L&T as the best.
The poll results are an affirmation of L&T’s deeply
entrenched values, ethical practices and corporate
governance practices.

L&T bags KPMG-Infrastructure Today Award

M anagement consultancy firm KPMG and
leading infrastructure news magazine
Infrastructure Today ranked L&T as the most
admired infrastructure company in India, and
presented it the prestigious KPMG-Infrastructure
Today Award 2008.

Mr. K. R. Palta, Vice President (Corporate Affairs),

L&T, received the award from Dr. Montek Singh
Ahluwalia, Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission,
Govt. of India, at a function in New Delhi on
December 10, 2008.

KPMG is a globally reputed firm that provides

audit, tax, and advisory services in 148 countries.
Infrastructure Today is published by the Mumbai-
based ASAPP Media Information Group, which
also brings out well-known periodicals like
Construction World, and Projects Info.

KPMG and ASAPP Media teamed up to Mr. K.R. Palta, Vice President (Corporate Affairs), L&T receiving
recognise the contribution and role of players in the award from Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Dy. Chairman,
the infrastructure sectors by instituting annual Planning Commission, Govt. of India.
awards.

59 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 Padma Bhushan for Mr. A. M. Naik

L &T’s Chairman & Mr. Naik is the second L&T-ite to be honoured

Managing Director, with the Padma Bhushan. L&T’s co-founder,
Mr. A. M. Naik was Mr. Henning Holck-Larsen received the Padma
conferred one of the Bhushan in 2002.
country’s most coveted
honours – the Padma
Bhushan.

The prestigious
Honours List released
by the President of India on Republic Day 2009 bore
Mr. Naik’s name, citing his contribution to Indian
industry, and the role that the Company played in
nation building. On receiving the intimation from
the President’s office, Mr. Naik chose to share
the national honour with the employees of the
Company, and said:

“Leading a company that is helping to build the

nation is a matter of pride in itself. To receive high
national recognition for this service is indeed
heartening. It will be my privilege to accept the
Padma Bhushan on behalf of all the employees of
the Company for whom the L&T story is always
interwoven with the larger interests of India.”

Mr.A.M. Naik flanked by the Board Members at the felicitation function held at Powai, Mumbai.
ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 60
Mr. A. M. Naik - Business Leader of the Year
Receives Award from the Prime Minister
Awards
On Saturday, January 17, 2009 at an eagerly
awaited function attended by a galaxy of corporate
chieftains, L&T’s Chairman & Managing Director,
Mr. A. M. Naik, received the prestigious Economic
Times – Business Leader of the Year Award from
the Prime Minster of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

It was an occasion made even more special,

because after being postponed in the wake of the
Mumbai terror attacks, it was held at the same
venue – The Trident, Mumbai, which was one of
the targets of the terror attacks.

Accepting the award, Mr. Naik said: “This is one of

the proudest moments for the whole company, for
I believe that the CMD and the company are two
sides of the same coin.”

Other award winners included: E. Sreedharan,

MD, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (Policy Change Mr. A.M. Naik
& CEO, ICICI Prudential (Business Woman of the
Agent of the Year); Kamal Nath, Union Commerce receiving the Business
Year); Ashok Ganguly, Former Chairman, HLL
& Industry Minister (Business Reformer of the Leader Award from
(Lifetime Achievement Award); and Tata Steel
Year); Arun Sarin, Former CEO, Vodafone Group Hon’ble Prime Minister
(Company of the Year). Dr. Manmohan Singh.
(Global Indian of the Year); Shikha Sharma, MD

Mr. A. M. Naik conferred Transformational Leader Award

In recognition of the pivotal role played by Mr.
A. M. Naik, Chairman & Managing Director, in
sustaining L&T’s unique ethos and upholding its
professional value system, the Indian Merchants’
Chamber and the Asian Centre for Corporate
Governance & Sustainability (ACCGS) conferred
him with their prestigious ‘Transformational Leader
Award – 2008’.

The award was presented at the 9th International

Conference on Governance, Sustainability &
Corporate Citizenship jointly organised by Indian
Merchants’ Chamber and the ACCGS in Mumbai
on November 20, 2008. Present on the occasion
was Mr. Ernst Ligteringen, Chief Executive, Global ACCGS is a non-profit institution set up in 2001 Mr. A.M. Naik receiving
Reporting Initiative (GRI), Amsterdam – the with a mission to improve corporate governance the Transformational
organization that virtually sets the international practices in Asia. Leader Award.
standard for sustainability reporting guidelines. Incidentally, Mr Naik has launched the maiden
The awards committee was chaired by Ms. Chanda edition of L&T’s Corporate Sustainability Report
Kochhar – Joint MD, ICICI Bank. on November 26, 2008.

61 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08

 Mr. A.M. Naik Conferred Gujarat’s Highest State Honour -
‘Gujarat Garima Award’
L &T’s Chairman & Managing Director, Mr. A. M.
Naik, received Gujarat’s highest state honour
– the Gujarat Garima Award (‘Pride of Gujarat’)
– presented by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr.
Narendra Modi.
The award – a shawl, a citation and a memento –
was presented on January 12, 2009 – the inaugural
day of the ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ exhibition held at
Ahmedabad. The award was presented in the
presence of a galaxy of state
ministers, diplomats, visiting
state guests, dignitaries from
around 40 countries, senior
government officials, business
leaders and over ten thousand
people.
The citation highlighted Mr.
Naik’s philanthropy and his
contribution to several social
initiatives, in Gujarat as well
as in other parts of India,
and his achievements as a
professional in transforming
L&T into an engineering
Mr. A.M. Naik accepting the shawl from powerhouse.
Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat.
The award acquires special significance in view
of the fact that Mr. Naik has risen from a humble
school-teacher’s family in rural Gujarat to the
highest echelons of corporate leadership. In a
glowing speech, Mr. Modi recalled Mr. Naik’s
outstanding contribution to the uplift of rural Gujarat
and his role in the development of the state. Mr.
Modi also invited Mr. Naik’s wife, Mrs. Geeta Naik,
to the dais, and complimented her for her role in
facilitating Mr. Naik’s numerous achievements.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Naik said this
award carried special emotional value as it came
from his birthplace, Gujarat. Mr. Naik said this
high recognition to the son of a middle-class
teacher and grandson of a Gold Medalist primary
teacher would be a source of encouragement to
the youngsters of today. He quoted from the L&T
Anthem which dwells on the debt that we owe
to the land our birth, and spoke about the key
projects executed by L&T in Gujarat.
Earlier recipients of the Gujarat Garima Award
include business leaders like Mr. Ratan Tata,
Mr.Mukesh Ambani, and eminent personalities in
the fields of social work, and philanthrophy.

Mr. A. M. Naik bags E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Mr. A.M. Naik, Chairman & Managing Director,
L&T has added another feather to his cap. He was
honoured with the coveted E&Y Entrepreneur of
the Year Award in the professional category by
Ernst & Young at a function held in Mumbai on
November 26, 2008.

The winners for the awards, which are now in the

10th year, was selected by an eminent six-member
jury, chaired by ICICI Bank Managing Director
and CEO, Mr. K. V. Kamath. There were over 291
The Ernst & Young Award has become a symbol
nominations received this year, the highest since
and measure of entrepreneurial success around
the awards were launched in 1999.
the world. Originated in Northern America, it has
Mr. Naik received the award from the Chairman & now spread into a movement that is celebrated
Global CEO of Earst & Young, Mr. James Turley. across 135 cities in 50 countries.

ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08 62

Mr. A.M. Naik releases
L&T’s First Corporate Sustainability Report

L &T’s first Corporate Sustainability Report

for 2007-08 was released by Mr. A. M. Naik,
Chairman & Managing Director, in Mumbai. It
Social parameters. Reporting can go a long way in
satisfying stakeholders’ demands for transparency
on corporate responsibility.
communicates L&T’s sustainability performance to
all its stakeholders and will help in benchmarking
with international peers.

This is the first corporate sustainability report to

be brought out by an engineering & construction
company in India. It is a matter of pride for all L&T-
ites that the report secured the highest rating of
‘A+’ given by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI),
Amsterdam.

Releasing the report, Mr. Naik remarked that like the

smiling girl on its cover, we would like to see smiles
on the faces of our shareholders. “For this we need
to put extra efforts to improve performance, reduce
costs, and create higher shareholder value,” he
said.

Sustainability reports disclose a company’s

Mr. A.M. Naik, CMD, L&T releasing the first copy of
performance on Economic, Environmental and ‘Corporate Sustainability Report’.

L&T bags FICCI Award for Outstanding Corporate Vision

I n recognition of the outstanding contribution to
the development of Indian industry and society,
the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
& Industry (FICCI) has honoured L&T with its
Annual Award 2007-08 for ‘Outstanding Corporate
Vision’.
operations was produced for the occasion. FICCI
was established in 1927 as a central organisation
of industry, trade and commerce in India. Now
it has a nationwide membership of over 1500
corporates and over 500 chambers of commerce
and business associations.

L&T bagged the award in the category of the

Corporate Triple Impact – Business Performance:
Social & Environmental Action and Globalisation.
Mr. R. N. Mukhija, President (Electrical &
Electronics), and Board Member, L&T, received the
award from Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister
for External Affairs and Finance, at the inaugural
session of FICCI’s 81st Annual General Meeting in
New Delhi on February 12, 2009.

A 30-second film highlighting L&T’s business

performance, its contribution to community
service and its achievements in globalizing its
Mr. R.N. Mukhija, President (Electrical & Electronics),
L&T receiving the award from Mr. Pranab Mukherjee,
Union Minister for External Affairs and Finance. 63 ECC Concord | Oct - Dec 08
Printed by Universal Print Systems Ltd., Chennai, Edited by Mr. V.S. Ramana for Larsen & Toubro Limited - ECC Division, from ECC-HQ,
Manapakkam, Chennai 600 089. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the management of Larsen & Toubro
Limited. The contents of this magazine should not be reproduced without the written permission of the Editor. Not for sale. Only for circulation
among the employees, business associates and customers of ECC, L&T’s Construction Division.