-Mr. Sandeep Gulati, Regional CEO of South Asia and MD, Egis India

Self and Company Introduction 

Sandeep is a senior business leader with over 25 years of experience in varied leadership roles. He joined Egis India in 2017 to spearhead the future growth of Egis Group in India.

In his current role as Regional CEO of South Asia and MD of Egis India he is driving multi-dimensional transformation of South Asian Operations in the region. Sandeep has been successfully leading a transformation, both on strategic business direction and on delivery with a strong focus on governance and processes. With a growth rate far exceeding the market (more than doubling its topline), Egis has established itself as a market leader. Egis is now undisputedly the most diversified consulting companies with marquee projects across sectors like Rail, Water and Ports, Roads, Aviation and Urban. He has revamped Egis’ operations in the region into a sustainable future ready, tech enabled consulting firm and has contributed hugely to its growth over the last five years, incorporating his idea of #ExecuteWithExcellence  

His five years at the helm have seen the region focusing on four key areas – Growth, innovation, digitalization, and active participation in nation building. Leading Egis’ transformation towards significantly expanding its core business, diversification in newer portfolios and geographies, developing a Global design center and driving its inorganic growth ambitions in the region. With Sandeep’s progressive “people first’ policies and practices, Egis India is certified by the prestigious Top Employers Institute for the year 2022 as a “Top Employer”.

Prior to joining Egis, he has worked with Alcatel-Lucent as CFO, India and South Asia where his key challenge was to help the company consolidate its business in India and drive profitable growth. He was also responsible for driving process orientation, governance, and compliance. He is a Chartered Accountant by profession, has imbibed the values of hard work and integrity from his father, who continues to be an inspiration for him. Egis is an international player active in the consulting, construction engineering and mobility services sector. Egis design and operate intelligent infrastructure and buildings capable of responding to the climate emergency and helping to achieve more balanced and sustainable development.
Brand Egis is associated with excellence in delivering best in the class project management processes through expert manpower and tools. Egis in India is associated with most of the marquee infrastructure projects – be it – Rail, Metros, Expressways, Airports, Smart Cities, Water and Ports and in emerging sectors like Climate Change and Sustainability.

What are the business and investment opportunities you see between India and France? 

India and France have key bilateral investments and trade and commercial cooperation. Especially in sectors involving  smart infrastructure, IT, skill development, etc. The two countries are successfully cooperating in the areas of smart cities, railways, tourism, food processing, renewable energy, and many other key areas. India and France have always maintained good relations in various sectors and are working towards achieving new heights in trade and economic relations. The recent visit of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to attend the annual Bastille Day, in Paris, France has further strengthened the relationship.

What are some of the key challenges faced by your industry in the Indian market as well as by your company specifically? Can you describe some of the strategies you’ve implemented to overcome these challenges?

I always consider Challenges as areas of improvement. Challenges can be many starting from policy, funding, technology, inadequate planning, and implementation etc.

The possible way forward can be investment in social infrastructure, increased Public-Private Partnerships, improved Project Planning and Implementation, implementation of Innovative Financing Solutions, Encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Building Human Capital and Effective Regulation to name a few. India has enhanced its infrastructure landscape over the past two decades, much remains to be done to meet demands now and, in the years, ahead. The Government has set aside Rs 111 crore under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for FY2019 – 25, with sectors such as energy, roads, urban and railways amounting to a whopping 71% of the projected infrastructure investment. Additionally, the online “holistic governance” system – PM Gati Shakti connects 16 ministries — such as Roads and Highways, Railways, Shipping, Petroleum and Gas, Power, Telecom, Shipping, and Aviation — with the objective to ensure holistic planning and execution of infrastructure projects, by reducing implementation costs.

PM Gati Shakti will enable multiple government departments to harmonise their efforts into a multi-modal network. Also, several other Government initiatives such as Asset Monetization Scheme and New Guidelines on Procurement, etc are currently pushing the Indian infrastructure sector in the right direction. Government’s focus on infra is witnessing a sharp surge over the years.As a critical infrastructure, technology is becoming a more important part of the infrastructure discussion in developed and developing countries alike. In their quest to improve infrastructure, governments and companies are increasingly applying and adopting technology in diverse areas, ranging from smart grids and smart lighting, urban mobility, and transport infrastructure. Smart infrastructure employs technologies such as IoT, which connects various elements of infrastructure and provides a platform to review different situations. Technology is offering opportunities that provide complex solutions that help address the booming demand, and not at the expense of a sustainable future. But technology alone is insufficient. It must be adopted as part of a long-term, broad strategy that also takes into consideration affordability, usability, and sustainability.

What have been the biggest accomplishments of your company in the last few years?

Egis India is one of the top three providers of comprehensive solutions for infrastructure engineering and project management in the country. The journey of Egis in India started 27 years ago. In the last 10 years, Egis India has successfully diversified its order books from only Roads & Highways to other major sectors like Aviation, urban, buildings, railway, water, and ports. We are one of the only engineering firms to offer truly integrated services across all major engineering disciplines and every aspect of the built environment – from road to water to energy, rail and beyond.

Today, Egis India is successfully executing large and diversified projects with offices in all major locations, we employ and train 3,000 people nationwide, working to the highest global standards. We have worked closely with government and private operators to support India’s continued development and we, take pride to contribute to the larger cause of Nation Building.

• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi
• PMAY is the flagship mission of GoI. The mission addresses the livability of slum dwellers by ensuring housing for all. Inaugurated our Prime Miniter Narendra Modi in 2015.
• Mongla Port, Bangladesh: Second largest port in Bangladesh. Line of credit extended by GoI (EXIM bank). Hinterland expands to Nepal, India and Bangladesh.
• Mumbai Line 3: Connects major CBDs of Nariman Point and BKC, Domestic and Int’l Terminals of airport, industrial areas of MIDC and SEEPZ
• Mumbai Coastal Road Project: Major land reclaimation project. First time monopile implementation in India. Reduction in travel time by one-third between south mumbai and western suburbs.
• Trichy International Airport: The roof design is one of the most unique across all airports in India for which Pascal and Watson have received an award.\
• Bhubaneswar Smart City: To promote Bhubaneswar as a livable city that gives a better quality of life to its citizens with a clean and sustainable environment.
• Chandigarh Smart City: The City Beautiful is envisoned to become Leader in Liveability, Sustainability, Equality and Innovation.
• Purvanchal Expressway: Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A fighter plane was landed and taken off from the Expressway.

How has IFCCI added value to your organization in India?

Our relationship with IFCCI started many years back and we have regularly engaged with IFCCI for various critical issues.