Our Associates
A.K. Balasubramani
Senior Engineer - Planning
A.K. Balasubramani, a Civil Engineer with more than 16 years of experience in the construction sector, has been a valuable asset to Eka Infra since 2018. With his extensive knowledge in marine and building construction, his core competency lies in overseeing such projects of Eka Infra. As a Senior Planning Engineer for many prestigious projects, he was responsible for planning and monitoring the baseline programme schedule, procurement of construction materials, tracking project progress, coordinating with contractors, and making key decisions as required by the Resident Engineer. His successful management of these responsibilities across multiple projects has earned him the confidence and trust of clients and colleagues alike.
Anup Kumar Pothuneedi
Advisor - Projects
Anup Kumar is a Civil Engineer with three decades of experience in executing major infrastructure projects. His expertise lies in team management, client liaison, strategic-level cost and time monitoring, and reporting to clients and stakeholders whilst adhering to Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) guidelines and industry standards, maintaining a high level of compliance. At Eka Infra, Anup is associated as Advisor – Projects, responsible for overseeing construction supervision of all projects. Anup’s technical expertise, management skills, and excellent interpersonal qualities make him a valuable asset to Eka Infra’s success team.
Bhavdip Shah
Structural Marine Engineer
Bhavdip Shah holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a focus on Construction, Technology, and Management (CTM), along with a master’s degree in Structural Design. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) through the Project Management Institute (PMI). With over 17 years of experience in Marine Structure Engineering, specializes in marine projects and is adept at detailed design, including jetties, yards, and buildings with various types of foundations and materials like steel tubular, steel sheet piles, steel modular piles, concrete bored piles, and prestressed spun piles liquid terminals, dry bulk terminals, container berths, container yards, multipurpose terminals, and master plan development. His technical skills are complimented by his experience in berthing analysis, ship navigation simulation, port master engineering layout preparation with FEED design, marine infrastructure inspection and repair solutions, tender document preparations, technical specification development, port utilization studies, and equipment installation on existing structures.
Capt. R K Lahiri
Inland Waterways and Costal Shipping
Capt. Raj Krishna Lahiri, a Master Mariner with a “Foreign Going” certification, spent over a decade at sea with Indian and international shipping companies. Upon transitioning to a shore-based role, he became a technical advisor and consultant specializing in ports and marine infrastructure, primarily focused on the eastern coast of India.
Capt. Lahiri’s project management experience, combined with his expertise in hydrographic surveys, logistics planning, marine surveys, vessel suitability studies for inland waterways, and operations management, provides Eka Infra with valuable insights for developing marine and port infrastructure projects. He plays a key role in ensuring that proposed infrastructure aligns with the needs of logistics chains, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of our studies and developments in this sector.
David Wignall
Port Specialist
David Wignall is a senior Port professional currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Indonesia’s State-Owned Port Company (IPC). In this role, he oversees strategic projects, drawing on his extensive experience in port operations and development. With over fifteen years of consulting within the industry, David has a comprehensive understanding of the port and marine sector, specializing in economics, feasibility studies, and daily operations management. David has led research and consulting projects, while offering management guidance for marine assets across multiple countries, such as China, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
He has been appointed by prestigious organizations such as the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea, The World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank to conduct independent studies. He has presented over 30 conference papers on Port and shipping projects and previously led the Ports and Logistics Division of a leading maritime research and consulting group, where he expanded its Asian operations.
Drumil Patel
Traffic Analyst
Drumil Patel is a seasoned expert in traffic analysis, specializing in demand assessment and feasibility studies. With more than 28 years of experience, he has successfully completed projects involving Port development and logistics. Drumil is known for his sharp analytical skills and deep technical knowledge, having conducted numerous market studies, reviews, and due diligence assignments for ports and logistics across India and globally. His extensive work encompasses transport studies with a broad understanding of ports and shipping, logistics infrastructure (including dry ports, logistics parks, private freight terminals, free trade zones, etc.), and inland waterways.
Drumil’s extensive experience in the industry allows him to provide effective solutions through a practical and ergonomic approach. His expertise in traffic studies, cargo logistics, and feasibility studies proves crucial in Port projects as well as in general infrastructure and land use planning. With his profound knowledge, Drumil is capable of delivering successful outcomes for complex Port and logistics challenges.
G. R. Rajagopalan
Railway Expert
Rajagopalan is a civil engineer with an MBA brings over 15 years of industrial construction experience, both in India and abroad, specializing in the construction of silos, pre-stressed silos, and chimneys using the slip form method. This individual has a track record of success in handling complex projects, ensuring high-quality construction standards, and adhering to timelines.
With more than 20 years of involvement in railway works, Rajagopalan has extensive expertise in consultancy, detailed engineering, project management, and commissioning of railway sidings. Having taken numerous railway projects from concept to completion, they have mastered planning, railway alignment design, railway operations, and the execution and commissioning of railway sidings. They have collaborated with many leading companies in India and have also partnered with a Canadian firm on railway projects in Nigeria, showcasing a versatile and global approach to engineering and project management.
Girish Lele
Liquid Bulk and LNG Expert
Girish Lele brings more than 40 years of experience across industries like fertilizers, petrochemicals, refineries, and oil & gas. Throughout his career, he has served in various roles including overseeing Manager, HAZOP Chairman, Lead Engineer, Proposal Manager, Project Manager, and Technical Expert. His expertise spans the creation of basic engineering documents for ammonia cryogenic storage, preparation of technical offers and proposals for different projects, conducting technical feasibility and DFR studies, and asset evaluation for clients. Additionally, he has experience with technical audits and quality control monitoring in process engineering.
Mani Ravichander
MEP Expert
Mani Ravichander brings more than 30 years of experience in delivering significant infrastructure projects, including power plants and marine developments. He holds the degree of Electrical and Mechanical Technology, along with a master’s degree in business administration, providing a robust foundation for his work. His expertise in these fields encompasses a broad range of technical capabilities, including electrical system design, mechanical system integration, and power distribution, project management, design planning, and project execution with leading international companies. Mani’s extensive knowledge in mechanical engineering includes HVAC systems, fluid dynamics, and thermal analysis, while his electrical engineering skills cover power generation, distribution systems, and control systems planning and design of mechanical and electrical systems, as well as his understanding of Public Health Engineering (PHE), ensure that Eka Infra can offer clients a truly comprehensive approach to major infrastructure projects and deliver solutions that meet both technical and regulatory requirements, providing a solid framework for sustainable and efficient infrastructure.
Mihir Vora
Geotechnical Specialist
Mihir Vora boasts more than 32 years of experience in geotechnical investigations, groundwater exploration, concrete technology, quality control, and quality management systems. He has worked on field investigations, data analysis, and report preparation for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Remedial Investigations/Feasibility Studies of the Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue Landfills. Additionally, he has assisted in the evaluation of oil contamination, groundwater modelling, and plotting groundwater contours for design parameters in Interim Remedial Measures programs at these landfills.
At KBM Engineering Research Laboratory, Mihir is responsible for both laboratory and field testing of soils. He coordinates field sampling activities such as drilling, sampling, and hydraulic transmissivity testing, and is involved in analysing soil test results and preparing geotechnical reports for foundation designs. Over his 20-year tenure at KBM, he has overseen more than 1,200 geotechnical projects spanning infrastructure, power plants, refineries, industrial projects, and residential, social, and religious developments. He is a certified Quality Engineer and has authored numerous publications, showcasing his expertise and contribution to the field.
Sapankumar Shedge
Environmental and Social Consultant
With 21 years of experience and dual Masters in “Biological Sciences” and “Social Work,” Sapankumar has a deep understanding of both the technical and social aspects of environmental projects. He has extensive knowledge of environmental compliance, conducting environmental hearings, and ensuring project treatments align with regulatory requirements. His expertise extends to managing buffer zones for multiple projects, and he is skilled at engaging with communities, overseeing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, liaising with government agencies, land acquisition, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R).
As an Environmental & Social (E&S) consultant, he plays a pivotal role in project assessment, due diligence, and monitoring for various commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. He has experience working with project sponsors and provides a range of E&S advisory services, including conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and preparing comprehensive reports.
Sudesh Tiwari
Geotechnical Expert
Sudesh Tiwari specializes in one of the most complex and technically demanding areas of large-scale infrastructure projects: Ground Conditions. He holds an M. Tech in Geotechnical Engineering and has accumulated over 20 years of hands-on experience in the field. Sudesh is a member of both the Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) and the Indian Institute of Bridge Engineering (IIBE), affirming his commitment to professional development and industry standards.
Sudesh’s career has taken him across India and international. His expertise covers a range of specialized geotechnical activities, such as conducting and analyzing Pile Integrity Tests, Cross-Hole Tests, Electric Cone Penetration Tests, and completing over 1500-line km of shallow seismic refraction surveys. He is highly skilled in geotechnical design, bathymetric and geophysical surveys, quality control in geotechnical operations, chemical and geotechnical analysis, cost estimation, and tendering. In his career, he has held key positions such as General Manager and Geotechnical Engineer at major companies like Fugro-KND Geotech Ltd. and Integrity Geosciences Pvt Ltd., underscoring his leadership and technical expertise.
Shanid K P
Planning Engineer
Shanid is a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA in Infrastructure Management from the RICS School of Built Environment (RICS SBE), recognized as one of India’s top institutions for studies in the Built Environment., makes him an asset for organizations operating in these fields. Shanid has developed expertise in key areas like Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs), project structuring, project finance and alternative financing, risk management, cost analysis, contract management, procurement, and tendering. his work encompasses principles of sustainability, economic equity, environmental protection, and human welfare, integrating them into the planning and execution of large-scale infrastructure projects. Having worked for over three years with Eka Infra extensively in ports and logistics sector projects, he has been responsible for master planning, feasibility studies, technical assessments, techno-economic viability studies, tender documentation, project management, and contract management, tender evaluations, proposals, bidding, digital marketing, training, and other technical assistance. Since moving out of India, Shanid works in a capacity of an independent consultant for Eka Infra.
Sandeep Rao Iddya
Environmental Engineer
Sandeep Rao Iddya holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in environmental engineering, bringing over 17 years of experience to the infrastructure industry. His expertise spans a wide range of environmental activities, including conducting environmental audits, implementing environmental management systems, and overseeing design coordination and assessments. Sandeep’s collaborations with industry giants like Indian Oil Corporation, Asian Paints, and GAIL have gained expertise in tackling intricate environmental issues. As a Chartered Engineer and certified valuer, he is equipped with the technical knowledge to ensure projects comply with environmental regulations.
Since 2019, he has been associated with Eka Infra as an Independent Engineer, where he primarily focuses on environment-related initiatives and water treatment plant projects. His comprehensive understanding of environmental principles, coupled with his experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects, makes him a key contributor to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
Vilas Patankar
Technical Reviewer and Advisor
Mr. Patankar is one of the most experienced members at Eka Infra, boasting over 59 years of specialized experience as a marine structural engineer and consultant. His career began in 1965 after completing his bachelor’s degree in engineering. Since then, he has held various roles from Assistant Engineer to Director-level positions. For the past decade, he has been an Independent Technical Consultant, working across multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Philippines, Oman, Iraq, Guinea-Bissau, Syria, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Nigeria. His expertise encompasses master planning, structural analysis, designing of berth and mooring structures such as terminals, jetties, dolphins, and breakwaters, all while adhering to both Indian and International codes and standards. Additionally, he is skilled in the analysis and design of fixed offshore structures, steel and reinforced concrete structures, as well as in preparing detailed project reports, feasibility studies, and planning for greenfield projects.
For the past four years, Mr. Patankar has been associated with Eka Infra as a Technical Engineer and Advisor. His sharp understanding of design principles and his commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes make him an essential asset to the organization.
Vinod Bhagwat
Assistant Resident Engineer
Vinod Bhagwat has over 20 years of experience across a diverse range of infrastructure projects, including container terminal infrastructure, coal terminals, marine berths, national highways, power plants, industrial buildings, and onshore oil and gas terminals. His expertise lies in client engagement and consultation, as well as in providing effective solutions to issues arising during project execution, particularly within the quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) areas Vinod is highly knowledgeable about a wide range of industry’s standards and codes and has deep expertise in material testing and construction methodologies all in line with national and international standards. Vinod is meticulous in his documentation and record-keeping, ensuring compliance with Quality Assurance Plans (QAP), Inspection Test Plans (ITP), and Quality Management System (QMS) requirements.
