Metro Rail ready for trail run!

Hyderabad Metro, the jewel in the crown of modern Hyderabad is witnessing a peak phase of its construction activities. The first section of Nagole-Mettuguda under Nagole-Shilparamam corridor is now almost complete with tracks being laid.

The much-awaited trial run of the grand project, Hyderabad Metro is all set to roll out in the next few days over the elevated railway line. The executives of L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail project have recently received the first consignment of a three-coach train imported from South Korea are currently busy creating the ground work for the first ever trial run.

It will ply on the Nagole-Mettuguda stretch, marking an emphatic success story after L&T was handed over the reins of the futuristic project. Mr. VB Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director of the project organized a stakeholders’ meeting recently where he envisioned that people could soon witness the trains plying from Nagole to Mettuguda, a stretch of eight kilometers in the first phase.

The Rs.20, 000-crore project envisages linking the important stretches of Hyderabad and decongesting the traffic over a total distance of 72 km, which is dotted by 66 stations. The first phase is targeted for completion on March 21, 2015 which also marks the biggest ever investment made by any infrastructure major for a single city. Therefore, Nagole and Mettuguda stretch will become operational on the next Ugadi day.

L&T has recently completed building the largest pre-cast yard in India in Hyderabad city for this project. Hyderabad Metro also has the distinction of being the first one to use Communication-based Train Control (CBTC).  CBTC is a railway signaling system, which uses telecommunications between the train and track equipment for the infrastructure control and traffic management. CBTC helps in locating exact position of a train is more accurately compared to the traditional signaling systems. Truly, L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail is at the cusp of creating history.

Leadership promotion – Mr V.B. Gadgil

“You cannot be a developed country, if you don't have solid infrastructure in place”. This single statement sums up the terse message that is a reflection of Mr. Vivek Bhaskar Gadgil’s vision statement for the nation.

Mr. V.B. Gadgil, M D, currently in his role as the Chief Executive & Managing Director, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited is steering this vision towards a reality, unfolding in the form of a massive infrastructure project for Hyderabad, a promising global city. Prior to this role, Mr. Gadgil served as a Senior Vice President and Head of Electrical and Gulf Projects Operating Company, one of the four Independent companies of L&T. 

From his initial role as a Site Engineer, Mr. Gadgil with his sharp managerial and administrative skills and realistic attitude rose to the senior most position in the company after serving effectively in various roles such as up to Sr. Vice President. Known in the industry as classic taskmaster and shrewd business leader, Mr. Gadgil, apart from being an athlete, swimmer and mountaineer, also shares a passion in photography. He had graduated in civil engineering from the then Marathwada University, Aurangabad in 1971 securing University First Position (Gold Medal).

An ideal leader is the one, who motivates his work force boosting their morale at all times and is the one who does not hesitate to call a spade, a spade. The open two-way and honest communication that Mr. Gadgil follows has shown the right direction to aspirant engineers and leaders-in-the-making.   Hyderabad Metro was expected to kick-start in 2008 but due to many reasons the project failed to take off and once the rebidding was done and L&T secured the contract, all eyes were on the company whether it could kindle the hope among the people to take up this project successfully. After securing all clearances on time, Mr. Gadgil ensured that there is a blue print ready for rolling out the Hyderabad Metro Rail without any glitches this time, as past experience proved otherwise. He has successfully managed several legal and political challenges to the project.

Today, the project is witnessing a remarkable turnaround under his leadership and within two years; girders, pillars, stations and depots under construction have given the much-needed hope for the government and the common man that the traffic travails may be soon a thing of the past.

The success story scripted by L&T is nothing but the vision document created by Mr. Gadgil. His dynamic leadership, strategic planning and a never-say-die spirit has propelled the project to great heights. He has received numerous awards and rewards to his credit. Recently American Concrete Institute has recently honoured V B Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited for distinction in the field of Infrastructure development. VB Gadgil, chief executive and managing director of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited, has been  honoured with Corporate Strategist of the Year Award by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI). The award is also known as Chanakya Award.

The highly resourceful workforce of L&T and the management team continue to work to deliver time-bund results with utmost discipline and they continue to innovate which are the attributes that their leader Mr. V.B. Gadgil inculcated in them, contributing for their professional success too!