Page 42 - CO April 2017 Full Issue

interaction COVER STORY Powered by Chennai Metro The metro construction boom to continue in the EPC space L&T has established itself as the foremost builders of metro rail systems in India and is presently executing 19 projects across 10 cities in 3 countries. In addition to ongoing metro projects in 8 Indian cities viz.: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Kochi), the company is also part of the consortiums constructing the Doha and Riyadh Metros – the latter which, when finished will be the largest in the world. As L&T rides the metro boom, S V DESAI, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & HEAD – HEAVY CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE, L&T CONSTRUCTION shares his views with CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES about the present scenario and the opportunities in the offing in the metro space. What are the opportunities you are on the prevailing road trafc conditions. segment alone. Both these factors of growing seeking in the metro space going forward? At present, the metro market in India is demand and government support augur well Tell us about the metro projects in which pegged at about `25,000 Crore considering for the industry and hence we are bullish you are looking to contribute? the projects under execution and those that about fresh opportunities in this space. Tere is no denying that the metro rail will be commissioned over the next two Our portfolio ranges from elevated rail system is a quicker, greener and much years. Further, the intent of the Union to underground metro rail corridors, more comfortable mode of city commute Government is to invest about `1.2 Lakh station buildings along with alignments and hence more and more cities will Crore for the construction of metro systems to expansive depots. Several modern decide to develop metro systems, sooner across 15 cities over the next 5 – 7 years technologies have been adopted, including rather than later. Interestingly, a metro which refects the growth trends of cities in the conventional Drill and Blast Method can carry the same amount of trafc as 9 other parts of the world. For example, the (DBM), the New Austrian Tunnelling lanes for buses or 33 lanes of private motor South East Asian and Middle East markets Method (NATM), Tunnel Boring Machines cars apart from reducing journey time by are expected to receive investments to the (TBM), and soft tunnelling using road anything from 50–70 percent, depending tune of up to `2.8 Lakh Crore in the metro headers for underground alignments. We are 44 construction opportunities|aPrIL 2017