Page 38 - Construction_Opportunities_September_2025

SPOTLIGHT REPORT

All-Women L&T Team Sets Record by

Commissioning a 100-tonne Payload

Mining Machine in Jharkhand

In a record-setting This is the first instance in India where a Sanjana Sarkar, Sasi Kumari Mahato and
development in India’s machine of such scale and complexity has Soma Karmakar. Their achievement reflects
mining and construction been assembled, tested and commissioned L&T’s robust training ecosystem, which blends
rigorous technical instruction with structured
entirely by women technicians. The
equipment sector, commissioning marks a significant milestone mentorship and on-ground experience.
an all-women team in L&T’s ongoing efforts to foster gender Reflecting on the journey, Ruby Sharma says:
from Larsen & Toubro’s inclusivity and empower women in traditionally “Initially, we had doubts about whether we
Construction & Mining male-dominated industries. could take on certain jobs. But as the days
Machinery business (L&T The Komatsu HD785-7, a 1200-horsepower went by, we realised we could accomplish the
CMB) has commissioned dump truck that the all-women team has tasks, one after the other”.
Sanjana Sarkar adds: “It felt incredible,
commissioned, is among the largest in its
a mammoth 100-tonne class and features advanced systems such as because this dumper was not just
dump truck at Tata Steel’s variable horsepower control, automatic retard commissioned by us — it was handed
Noamundi iron ore mine in speed control and KOMTRAX Plus telematics. over to be operated by a woman driver as
Jharkhand. The commissioning was carried out between well. A team of women commissioning a
July 28 and August 2, in just six days, with the giant machine from start to finish gives us
team overcoming operational challenges immense pride”. Lauding the achievement,
posed by heavy monsoon rains. From Arvind K Garg, Advisor to the L&T CMD, says:
axle mounting to hydraulic integration, “It’s moments like this that remind us — when
the build was executed with precision and given an opportunity, women don’t just break
professionalism. The engine was fired up barriers. They step forward, take ownership and
on August 1, and complete systems were simply walk over them. What this team has
integrated by August 2. achieved here is more than commissioning
On August 18, the mammoth machine was a mammoth machine. It is a quiet triumph
ceremonially handed over to Tata Steel – here that will be remembered as a turning point in
too to an all-women operator crew, creating the mining sector”. The Komatsu HD785-7 will
a moment of continuity and pride. Women now haul iron ore at the Noamundi mine, but
engineers readied the machine, and women its legacy is already assured. It stands as a
operators will now drive it in production. testament to the power of belief, training and
L&T CMB’s commissioning team comprised support — and to the women who turned the
Alisha Jerai, Anamika Kerai, Banashree steel into a living giant.
Mondal, Monorama Banerjee, Nutan
Bobanga, Priyanka Biswas, Ruby Sharma, For more details visit: www.lntecc.com

38 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|SEPTEMBER 2025