Kumar Rajesh: An Innovative Leader Sparking A Paradigm Shift In Infrastructure Development & Maintenance
Kumar Rajesh
MD & CEO
Be it public or private sector projects, quality, and sustainable construction and maintenance make a huge difference to nation building. This makes innovative maintenance measures identified and executed based on the merit of the situations a dire need of the hour to minimize the costs and ensure the highest quality maintenance in the long term. This embraces the story of Rodovia India a sustainable infrastructure development company that provides proven, scientific, technical & economical solutions for infrastructure development and operation & maintenance of Roads and Airports.
The story of Rodovia is also the story of Kumar Rajesh (MD & CEO, Rodovia India), his passion and commitment to nation building. A true engineer at heart and by qualifications, Kumar is a B. Tech. (in Civil Engineering) with an MBA (in Finance). While possessing more than 27 years of experience in Project Development, Public Private Partnership Advisory, DBFOT, EPC & execution of infrastructure projects(Roads & Airports), he also brings excellent knowledge and knowhow to the table, having completed an advanced course on Recycling, Pavement Design and New Materials from Stellenbosch University, Cape Town SA. In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights, Kumar shares more about his journey, as well as the latest endeavors of Rodovia.
In conversation with Kumar Rajesh, MD & CEO, Rodovia India.
You have close to three decades of professional experience. What have been some of the most important milestones in your journey so far?
Some of the most important milestones in my journey so far revolve around working on innovative technologies and materials to save natural resources, environment, energy, and carbon footprints. It also pertains to faster construction/ rehabilitation with state-of-the-art technologies, such as 'Cold In Plant/ InSitu Recycling, Hot-in-Plant/InSitu Recycling Bituminous Stabilized Materials, and Alternate Pavement Design with Stabilization, among others.
Accomplishing an advanced course on Recycling, Pavement Design, and New Materials from Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, SA, in 2009, getting selected as a member to revise IRC- 43 in 2010, and working with IRC committee members have been some of the important milestones as well.
Tell us about your leadership approach, as well as the values and guidelines that you follow as a leader.
I lead from the front by taking action, demonstrating what needs to be done, and keeping my team organized to make sure we're all on the same page and contributing equally.
Communication is one of my greatest strengths. I lead by facilitating open communication and trying to bring out the best in every team member. I'm delegating and finding the strengths of other team members is also one of my strong suits. I try to give each person a chance to do what they're best at and create a team effort that delivers a result that's greater than the sum of its parts.
How would you define Rodovia as an organization? How does it take part in nation building? What is the kind of role Rodovia plays?
Rodovia enjoys rich resources in terms of highly qualified and experienced professionals in the field of civil engineering. Professionals associated with Rodovia have varied experience in research, planning, design, execution, operations, and maintenance of numerous large projects.
We take part in nation building by providing long lasting, economical solutions to every road condition of infrastructure projects during construction and operations & maintenance.
Rodovia plays the role of the backbone of the Indian construction industry. We provide proven scientific and technical solutions to solve challenges in infrastructure development as well as operation & maintenance of Roads and Airports.
As a leader in the construction/ infrastructure development industry, how do you perceive the changing market behaviors and the constant demand for topnotch solutions under constrained budgets?
I perceive the changing market behavior as a very good sign for the construction industry. It is a great omen that there is demand for quality solutions under constrained budgets as it is very important to give priority to quality, especially in the construction industry, and there is no doubt that it will be proved as a major reason for the development of our nation.
What did the pandemic mean for you? How did you approach the need for new operational and financial strategies?
Needless to say, the pandemic was very devastating for the whole world. In the aftermath, the situation became very difficult for everyone. But there is something about difficulties you can only either cry or try. This was the thought that made me approach the need for new operational and financial strategies knowing my capabilities and potential and it worked.
Tell us about the sustainable practices the company has adopted. As a leader, how do you perceive the responsibility toward green construction?
We at Rodovia have adopted a business practice that is economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly. Rodovia's forte is to promote green construction. We largely do Construction/ Rehabilitation projects with Recycling, Stabilization, alternate Pavement designs, and innovations
Communication is one of my greatest strengths. I lead by facilitating open communication and trying to bring out the best in every team member. I'm delegating and finding the strengths of other team members is also one of my strong suits. I try to give each person a chance to do what they're best at and create a team effort that delivers a result that's greater than the sum of its parts.
We provide proven scientific and technical solutions to solve challenges in infrastructure development as well as operation & maintenance of roads and airports
How would you define Rodovia as an organization? How does it take part in nation building? What is the kind of role Rodovia plays?
Rodovia enjoys rich resources in terms of highly qualified and experienced professionals in the field of civil engineering. Professionals associated with Rodovia have varied experience in research, planning, design, execution, operations, and maintenance of numerous large projects.
We take part in nation building by providing long lasting, economical solutions to every road condition of infrastructure projects during construction and operations & maintenance.
Rodovia plays the role of the backbone of the Indian construction industry. We provide proven scientific and technical solutions to solve challenges in infrastructure development as well as operation & maintenance of Roads and Airports.
As a leader in the construction/ infrastructure development industry, how do you perceive the changing market behaviors and the constant demand for topnotch solutions under constrained budgets?
I perceive the changing market behavior as a very good sign for the construction industry. It is a great omen that there is demand for quality solutions under constrained budgets as it is very important to give priority to quality, especially in the construction industry, and there is no doubt that it will be proved as a major reason for the development of our nation.
What did the pandemic mean for you? How did you approach the need for new operational and financial strategies?
Needless to say, the pandemic was very devastating for the whole world. In the aftermath, the situation became very difficult for everyone. But there is something about difficulties you can only either cry or try. This was the thought that made me approach the need for new operational and financial strategies knowing my capabilities and potential and it worked.
Tell us about the sustainable practices the company has adopted. As a leader, how do you perceive the responsibility toward green construction?
We at Rodovia have adopted a business practice that is economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly. Rodovia's forte is to promote green construction. We largely do Construction/ Rehabilitation projects with Recycling, Stabilization, alternate Pavement designs, and innovations
to save energy, natural resources, carbon footprints, time and money. As a leader, I perceive the responsibility toward green construction as it helps in the reduction of operational costs and helps to manage energy efficiency to a very great extent.
What about your workforce safety environment? What are the measures that you have adopted to ensure the safety of your workforce?
The focus is on the safety environment during the construction as well as the operation & maintenance of infrastructure projects, predominantly with mechanized measures by minimizing the involvement of manpower to ensure the highest degree of safety standards.
To ensure the safety of the workforce at the site, we are adopting several highly regarded safety measures. For instance, a Toolbox Talk is an informal group discussion that focuses on a particular safety issue, safety plan, personal protective equipment(PPE), following environmental guidelines, proper site training, safety Programs, and Culture.
What are opportunities that you foresee in the road development segment? What are your future plans?
In the road development segment, opportunities are in abundance, not only in construction but also in Operation and Maintenance. We have constructed large road networks in the last two decades, and now there is a great need and high demand or opportunities for maintenance of these roads. At present, in India, there is a shortage of professional O& M contractors.
My future plan is to provide sustainable, longlasting, economical solutions to every road condition of infrastructure projects during construction, operations & maintenance.
Based on your wealthy professional experiences, what would be your advice to the budding leaders in the industry?
My advice to all the mushrooming leaders will be that it is not going to be as easy falling off a log in the construction industry. You will have to work hard, believe in yourself, and always keep your confidence high. There will be difficult times, but with self-belief, sheer determination, and strong will power, the hurdles can be managed well. Three C's will help them to succeed in their respective fields: Choice, Clarity, and Commitment.
Kumar Rajesh, MD & CEO, Rodovia India
Kumar is a B. Tech. (in Civil Engineering) with an MBA (in Finance). While possessing more than 27 years of experience in Project Development, Public Private Partnership Advisory, DBFOT, EPC & execution of infrastructure projects (Roads & Airports), he also brings excellent knowledge and knowhow to the table, having completed an advanced course on Recycling, Pavement Design, and New Materials from Stellenbosch University, Cape Town SA. He has worked in several roles in the corporate realm with companies such as Linnhoff India, IL& FS Transportation Networks, Wirtgen India, IL& FS Infrastructure Development Corporation, RITES, CES (I), Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, and Sinar Mas (Indonesia). He also possesses wide experience working with the World Bank, ADB, CRRI, and IITs. He was one of the members appointed by IRC to modify IRC-43.
•Hobbies: Playing Cricket
•Favorite Cuisine: Indian
•Favorite Book: The Alchemist
•Favorite Travel Destination: Singapore
What about your workforce safety environment? What are the measures that you have adopted to ensure the safety of your workforce?
The focus is on the safety environment during the construction as well as the operation & maintenance of infrastructure projects, predominantly with mechanized measures by minimizing the involvement of manpower to ensure the highest degree of safety standards.
To ensure the safety of the workforce at the site, we are adopting several highly regarded safety measures. For instance, a Toolbox Talk is an informal group discussion that focuses on a particular safety issue, safety plan, personal protective equipment(PPE), following environmental guidelines, proper site training, safety Programs, and Culture.
What are opportunities that you foresee in the road development segment? What are your future plans?
In the road development segment, opportunities are in abundance, not only in construction but also in Operation and Maintenance. We have constructed large road networks in the last two decades, and now there is a great need and high demand or opportunities for maintenance of these roads. At present, in India, there is a shortage of professional O& M contractors.
My future plan is to provide sustainable, longlasting, economical solutions to every road condition of infrastructure projects during construction, operations & maintenance.
Based on your wealthy professional experiences, what would be your advice to the budding leaders in the industry?
My advice to all the mushrooming leaders will be that it is not going to be as easy falling off a log in the construction industry. You will have to work hard, believe in yourself, and always keep your confidence high. There will be difficult times, but with self-belief, sheer determination, and strong will power, the hurdles can be managed well. Three C's will help them to succeed in their respective fields: Choice, Clarity, and Commitment.
Kumar Rajesh, MD & CEO, Rodovia India
Kumar is a B. Tech. (in Civil Engineering) with an MBA (in Finance). While possessing more than 27 years of experience in Project Development, Public Private Partnership Advisory, DBFOT, EPC & execution of infrastructure projects (Roads & Airports), he also brings excellent knowledge and knowhow to the table, having completed an advanced course on Recycling, Pavement Design, and New Materials from Stellenbosch University, Cape Town SA. He has worked in several roles in the corporate realm with companies such as Linnhoff India, IL& FS Transportation Networks, Wirtgen India, IL& FS Infrastructure Development Corporation, RITES, CES (I), Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, and Sinar Mas (Indonesia). He also possesses wide experience working with the World Bank, ADB, CRRI, and IITs. He was one of the members appointed by IRC to modify IRC-43.
•Hobbies: Playing Cricket
•Favorite Cuisine: Indian
•Favorite Book: The Alchemist
•Favorite Travel Destination: Singapore