Interview: Kavita Shirvaikar, Managing Director, Patel Engineering

With a legacy dating back to 1949, Patel Engineering has witnessed India’s infrastructure transformation first-hand. How have infrastructure projects evolved over the years?
Over the last seven decades, we have witnessed India’s infrastructure transform remarkably. It began as a largely local, labour-intensive construction, and now it has evolved into the execution of some highly complex, large-scale engineering projects which demand precision, speed, and technological excellence. Mechanization, digital monitoring systems, cutting edge construction technologies like the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are some of the things that are driving the infrastructure growth today. On the other hand, project timelines too have become more stringent, but the stronger policy support and robust government financing frameworks have also accelerated project execution across sectors. The most important shift is how the focus has shifted beyond simply creating physical assets. It is now centered on delivering sustainable, resilient, and technologically advanced solutions that benefit the nation.

Global oil and gas supply chain disruptions have intensified India’s push for reliable domestic energy sources. Do you see this as a renewed opportunity for hydropower, and how is Patel Engineering positioning itself in this transition?
Absolutely. The recent global oil and gas supply chain disruptions have highlighted the importance of energy security, catalysing India to accelerate its investments in reliable domestic energy resources. And hydropower is one thing that’s uniquely positioned in this transition; considering its renewable nature, grid stability benefits, and long operational life. We are seeing a renewed momentum in both the conventional hydropower and Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). Both are essential as they greatly support India’s growing renewable energy capacity. Hydropower accounts for nearly 60% of our ₹15,119 crore order book. Conclusively, we are well positioned to contribute meaningfully to India’s long-term clean energy and energy security objectives.

Which sectors do you see driving the company’s growth over the next three to five years, and what are the key factors behind this outlook?
In the next three to five years, we expect hydropower, Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs), specialized tunnelling, and underground infrastructure to be the driving factors of the company’s growth. This outlook is supported by India’s ambitious clean energy targets, increasing investments in energy storage solutions, and the growing need for sustainable power generation. Simultaneously, rapid urbanisation has created significant opportunities in the infrastructure sector. These could be the expansion of metro rail networks, the underground transit systems, and complex tunnelling projects. With Patel Engineering’s proven expertise, the execution capabilities, and strong project portfolio, we are well-positioned to capitalised on these opportunities and deliver sustainable growth.

How do you see the tunnelling segment evolving in India, and what role will it play in Patel Engineering’s future growth strategy?
The tunnelling sector of India is undergoing a significant transformation; owing to the growing investments in metro rail networks, underground transportation corridors, hydropower projects, and complex infrastructure in challenging terrains. Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are being highly used to enable faster, safer, and more efficient project execution. For us, tunnelling represents a key strategic growth area. With our extensive experience in hydro tunnelling and underground construction, coupled with a strong excavation track record; including achieving a national benchmark of 812 metres of TBM excavation in a single month, we are well-positioned to expand our pipeline of tunnelling opportunities across the country.

Infrastructure companies continue to face issues such as rising input costs, land acquisition delays, and funding constraints. How is Patel Engineering navigating these challenges?
While severe delays and funding constraints were systemic bottlenecks in the past, the infrastructure landscape has vastly improved today. Government-driven structural reforms -such as awarding contracts only after securing essential land and environmental clearances -have significantly minimized execution-led uncertainties before ground is broken. Similarly, the standardization of price escalation clauses is a key government initiative that now effectively shields project economics from raw material volatility. To leverage this improved environment, we mitigate counterparty risks by selectively bidding for contracts from financially robust entities, such as Navratna PSUs and strong state or civic bodies. Internally, our sustained focus on deleveraging and balance sheet optimization has drastically enhanced our liquidity and financial flexibility. This combination of an improved policy framework, strategic client selectivity, and financial discipline ensures we execute our growing order book smoothly and profitably.

Sustainability is becoming central to infrastructure development. How are you integrating environmental and sustainable construction practices into its projects?
Sustainability is always a focus of our project planning and execution approach. We prioritize the use of advanced, energy-efficient equipment with modern construction technologies that minimise emissions, optimise resource use, while leaving behind a minimal environmental impact. Computerised drilling and mechanised construction technologies help us improve precision and reduce the material wastage while also enhancing the operational efficiency.

Our practices are also centered around responsible construction which align with environmental regulations and long-term sustainability objectives. Besides, our core expertise in hydropower and underground infrastructure projects directly supports the nation’s clean energy transition.  

How is the company leveraging technologies such as BIM, digital project monitoring, AI-based analytics, or automation to improve project management?
Technology is an integral part of our operations. It helps us enhance project execution, efficiency, and operational control across our projects. We have successfully deployed SAP across all our project sites, even the most remote ones, paired with IoT-enabled telematics. This allows us to track construction progress, equipment performance, and site productivity in real time, enabling faster and more informed decision making. Additionally, we also include advanced automation technologies in our operations, including computerized drilling systems and intelligent Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) guidance solutions. This has largely improved accuracy, optimised resource utilisation, and reduce execution timelines. This integration of modern digital tools and data-driven processes into project management has enhanced our productivity, and has helped Patel Engineering to deliver complex infrastructure projects more efficiently.

Infrastructure execution requires highly skilled manpower. How challenging is talent acquisition and retention in the EPC sector today?
These remain two of the key challenges across the EPC sector: talent acquisition and retention; especially in siloed areas like hydropower, tunnelling, and underground infrastructure, where projects demand highly skilled technical and engineering expertise. The project complexity and the demanding execution environments require experienced professionals. We have addressed this challenge by leveraging our long-standing industry legacy, strong project portfolio, and our reputation for executing complex infrastructure projects. We also invest in continuous learning, skill development, and leadership growth while providing employees with opportunities to contribute to transformative nation-building projects, helping us attract and retain high-quality talent.

What policy reforms or government interventions would you like to see to further strengthen India’s infrastructure ecosystem?
Policy reforms in India have significantly strengthened the growing infrastructure ecosystem. Moving forward, dispute resolution streamlining mechanisms and faster arbitration processes would largely help with project-related uncertainties. This will also prevent working capital from being tied up in prolonged claims and litigations. In addition to this, development of specialised long-term financing structures for capital-intensive and high-gestation sectors like hydropower will definitely improve the access to patient capital and support greater private sector participation.

With global conflicts exposing vulnerabilities in supply chains and external dependencies, do you see indigenisation becoming a strategic necessity for India’s infrastructure sector? How is Patel Engineering positioning itself to contribute to this shift?
The recent global disruptions have thrown light on the importance of building a resilient and self-reliant supply chain. This would make indigenisation a strategic necessity for India’s infrastructure sector. When we strengthen our domestic abilities, we naturally reduce the dependence on external markets, which then enhances the execution certainty, and also supports long-term economic growth. Self-reliance has been a core principle throughout our journey. We continue to strengthen our domestic supply networks, leverage local engineering expertise, and collaborate with Indian vendors and partners wherever possible. Through the successful execution of complex infrastructure projects across sectors, we are contributing to the development of indigenous capabilities and supporting India’s vision of a robust and resilient infrastructure ecosystem.