National Council Members

CFI enjoys the patronage of majority of the leading civil construction Companies of India.

Our leaders exemplify our commitment to excellence and innovation in the construction industry, driving forward our shared vision for a dynamic future in infrastructure development.

Our National Council Members (FY '25 & FY '26)

member

Mr. Ajit Gulabchand

President-Emeritus, CFI

Designation / Organization: Chairman, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: President-Emeritus, CFI

Mr. Ajit Gulabchand is the Chairman on the Board of Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. (HCC). He served as Chairman & Managing Director of HCC for the past four decades till 2023.

During this tenure, he transformed the company from a construction major into a diversified infrastructure group of a global scale, developing and building responsible infrastructure through the next practices. Alongside his responsibilities at HCC, Mr. Gulabchand has been a vocal advocate of sustainable development and is regarded as a spokesperson for India's infrastructure sector in global forums.

Under Mr. Gulabchand's leadership, HCC continues the illustrious tradition set by his predecessors. The group has a knowledge asset of more than 1,700 officers, including around 1,100 engineers. In addition, it employs about 13,000 workers at its project sites across India. The result is a business that plays a leading role in Meeting the massive infrastructure needs of India, leveraging best-in-class equipment and technology, knowledge-driven processes and innovation-led next practices.

Mr. Gulabchand during his invaluable contribution for CFI over the past 24 years has reshaped the trajectory of CFI with enduring dedication.

He is a Member of CII National Council, Past Chairman of CII Task Force on Public Private Partnership in Infrastructure, Member of Governor's Steering Board of the Infrastructure and Urban Development (IU) Community at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Member of UK India Business Council (UKIBC) Advisory Council and Past Chairman of the Governing Council of the Construction Skills Development Council of India (CSDCI).

member

Mr. Vinayak Pai

President, CFI

Designation / Organization: Managing Director & CEO, Tata Projects Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: President, CFI

Mr. Vinayak Pai is the MD & CEO of Tata Projects Limited (TPL), India's premier sustainable technology-led EPC Company. Tata Projects delivers EPC solutions for the Infrastructure, Buildings, Energy and Industrial sectors. Some of the TPL's marquee projects are the New Parliament Building, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), Noida International Airport, HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd., Tata Electronic factory, ISRO - Trisonic Wind Tunnel, Chennai Metro, etc.

Prior to Tata Projects, Mr. Pai has worked in USA and Europe leading global businesses in over 50 countries, first as President - ECR at Jacobs, one of America's leading EPC Company and later as Group President Energy and Chemical Services business at Worley, Australia's top EPC company.

A respected voice in the industry, he is part of various committees of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and is the Chair of the National committee of Roads and Highways. In the past he has also been a member of Executive Leader World 50 and a Commissioner at the Energy Transition Commission UK.

Mr. Pai is also a member of the board of Governors of COEP Technology University and his ground-breaking contributions have earned him accolades including the Hall of Fame Award as an Infra Industry Leader by Construction Week and the distinguished alumni Abhimaan Award by the College of Engineering Pune.

member

Mr. Akhil Gupta

Vice President, CFI

Designation / Organization: CEO, Shapoorji Pallonji Engineering & Construction (India)
Office-Bearers in National Council: Vice President, CFI

Mr. Akhil Gupta is CEO of Shapoorji Pallonji- Engineering & Construction (India) business and Executive Director on the board of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited.

Mr. Gupta has 42 years of experience with large corporations in Corporate Management, Business Development and has successfully executed several large value Infrastructure and Industrial Projects.

Before joining Shapoorji Pallonji, he was the Executive Director-Operations and Whole Time Member of Board of Afcons Infrastructure Limited and he was responsible for company's business in Roads, Railways and Bridges in India, South Asia, Middle East and Africa. He has been responsible for expansion of Surface Transport Business of Afcons in Africa, South Asia and Middle East and successful delivery of several large value Infrastructure Projects in India and Africa. He led Petron Civil successfully as the Managing Director for 3 years.

Apart from this, he had long stints with Punj Lloyd Ltd. and IRCON International Ltd. He has proven track record of developing, training and leading large teams for management and execution of large value infrastructure and industrial projects both in India and abroad. Analytical and keen student of Construction Industry, Mr Gupta has presented papers on Construction management at domestic and international conferences. He has received awards and recognition for professional excellence from various organizations.

member

Ms. Priti Patel

Treasurer, CFI

Designation / Organization: Deputy Director, Patel Engineering Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Treasurer, CFI

Ms. Priti Patel is an accomplished business Leader and a serial entrepreneur in core infrastructure space, Engineering & Social Enterprises with expertise in strategic collaborations, implementation of projects, technology focused productivity and cost efficiency, proficient in relationship building with stakeholders globally.

She has over 27 years' experience in EPC delivery of Infrastructure projects in India, SAARC countries, South-East Asia and Gulf countries in Hydro Power, Urban infrastructure and Transportation, Water & Irrigation, Metro, pipelines, buildings and complex civil structures.

She is Vice Chairperson of the Women Committee of International Cooperative Alliance (ICA-AP), Member of NICMAR University, FICCI & ASSOCHAM, Chairperson of Defence Taskforce - FICCI Gujarat chapter brings a diverse perspective to her role as Treasurer of CFI.

She is recipient of MSME Emerging Women Entrepreneur Award 2022, NITI Aayog Women Trans forming India Award 2021, FICCI Flo Women Transforming India Award 2020 and Construction Woman of the Year Award 2017.

member

Mr. Rajeev Sharma

Deputy Director

Designation / Organization: Deputy Director, CFI
Office-Bearers in National Council: Deputy Director
member

Mr. Ajit Bhate

Member

Designation / Organization: Managing Director, Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Mr. Ajit Bhate, is a pioneer in the world of sophisticated Precast Building Construction Industry scenario in India; in 2010 he set up the first world class precast concrete element production factory in Pune, India called Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd., after intense research of requirements of prefabrication in Indian conditions, on his background of being an expert in Conventional and has hit the Indian market as an enviable combination of speed, quality and time.

Mr. Bhate also encourages research and development leading to multiple Patent Processes involving Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Ajit Bhate is also a well-known Speaker in Precast Concrete Construction Technology, Internationally and in India, apart from being a recipient of a number of awards for various conventional and high-volume Precast projects; the focus also being special and challenging projects needing high technical expertise.

About Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd.

Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. (PIIPL) is a company set up in Pune, India in September 2010.

This 14-year-old company was an initiative of a very well established and well reputed construction company of Pune - M/s Bhate and Raje Construction Pvt. Ltd., with a construction experience of over 3 decades with close prospective associations with European and MNC Partners

PIIPL strives to provide a One Stop Complete Precast Solution with European standards for Industrial, Commercial, Data Centres and Residential Projects, Infrastructure elements Metros, etc, pharma buildings.

Precast India IPL has excelled in the Indian precast scenario, with around 20 Awards for outstanding Concrete structures at National level competitions, including the feature on the cover page of the International FIB Bulletin 78, qualified as one of best 13 Transportation projects worldwide at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin 2017, with extensive research and development, and technology pertinent to the Indian Construction Industry. Stellar projects like World Trade Centre, Business Bay Yerawada, Infosys 4W Car Park, Balewadi High Street for Cummins, Cummins World Technical Centre, Cummins Technology Centre India, Schmersal, A Raymonds, Bharat Forge R & D Centre, Infosys 2cr Lit UGWT, Capitaland - Nalanda Shelters Pvt. Ltd. , Whirlpool India, Wilo Mather and Platt Pumps, Chitale Foods, Data Centres ( 24MW, 4MW in Pune ) for Airtel by Nxtra, were completed, with supplies of precast prestressed elements for L&T IKEA Mumbai etc. PIIPL is currently working on Tata Pune Metro, Pune University double decker flyover, etc. and completed around 13 million sq. ft., of Precast Concrete projects.

Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. today has a young and vibrant team of engineers in age brackets 26 to 36 years, and are credited with Patents in precast connection technology, which has invoked interests of giants like Hilti, Fischer, Pfeiffer etc who have approached them for Technology Ventures, thus taking the Company Internationally known in a short period of time.

member

Mr. Arjun Dhawan

Member

Designation / Organization: Vice-Chairman, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Mr. Arjun Dhawan, is the Executive Vice Chairman of Hindustan Construction Company Limited. He serves on the Boards of HCC Limited, HCC Infrastructure Ltd, and Steiner AG, overseeing operations spanning Engineering & Construction, Infrastructure Concessions, and Real Estate Development. Mr. Dhawan has previously served as HCC Group's Chief Executive Officer and President & CEO of HCC Infrastructure. As an active member of the World Economic Forum, he serves on the Global Commission on Nature-Positive Cities and is part of the E&C Industry Strategy Officers group. Prior to starting his career at HCC, Mr. Dhawan worked in the area of investment management across various businesses and industries. Mr. Dhawan began his career as an Investment Banker in New York with the Leveraged Finance Groups of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse First Boston. His transaction experience covers leveraged buyout, high yield, M&A and equity transactions in the automotive, energy, healthcare, media and telecom industries. Mr. Dhawan has a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics & Economics from Middlebury College and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About Hindustan Construction Company Limited

Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC) is one of India's leading Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Project Management Companies. It is headquartered in Mumbai. HCC was founded by Industrialist Seth Walchand Hirachand in 1926. HCC has executed a majority of India's landmark infrastructure projects, having constructed 26% of India's Hydro Power generation and 60% of India's Nuclear Power generation capacities, over 4,036 lane km of Expressways and Highways, more than 360 km of complex Tunnelling and 395 Bridges. Today, HCC Ltd. serves the infrastructure sectors of Transportation, Power and Water. The HCC Group, with a group turnover of ₹9,857 crore, comprises of HCC Ltd., HCC Infrastructure Co. Ltd., and Steiner AG in Switzerland.

member

Mr. Hardik Agrawal

Member

Designation / Organization: Managing Director, Dineshchandra R.Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Primarily handling the company's business development and investment activities. Spearheading a successful set of Public Private Partnership projects in roads and transport infrastructure, he has made a mark in the Indian infrastructure industry with the timely and quality execution of projects. Representing the company at all global scales, Hardik has instrumented a network of international collaboration with businesses and governments across the world.

He serves as the Chairman for FICCI's Infrastructure committee for the Gujarat State Council and is also a member of the National Executive Committee of FICCI. He is also an active participant in the Rail Division at CII. Hardik holds a B.S. in Construction Management combined with Law, Business Studies, and Architecture and Urban Policy from the prestigious New York University. A keen entrepreneur, he mentors" start-ups in his time off and runs an education non-profit.

About Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd.

Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd., which has been operating successfully over five decades, spearheaded its way in the infrastructure sector of India.

The fundamental premise of the Company is built on integrity, commitment to quality and excellence, conviction towards customer satisfaction, due diligence for safety and timeliness of our deliverables.

From humble beginnings to earning a position as one of the top construction Companies of the Country, this remarkable feat wouldn't have been possible without a strong workforce of 4000+ professionals and state-of-the-art information technology.

member

Dr. Nalin Gupta

Member

Designation / Organization: Managing Director, J.Kumar Infraprojects Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

A Commerce graduate and a member of the Indian Institution of Bridge Engineers, Dr. Nalin Gupta took charge of the Projects in 1996. A true-blue believer in the importance of honesty and hard-work, to him any problem is only an undiscovered solution. Always demanding the excellence and challenging the status quo, his disciplinarian attitude inspires the workforce to give their best.

He started his journey with a single commercial RMC plant at Pune and within 6 years, J. Kumar's RMC Division consists 16 RMC plants with a unique R&D centre for concrete where 1250 MPa strength, coloured concrete, floating concrete and concrete without cement and aggregate has been developed. Subsequently he started a Piling division with a single conventional Piling Rig and today this same Piling division stands populated with 44 Hydraulic Piling Rigs! He is also a pioneer in setting up a Batch Mix Plant & crusher for BRTS projects. As of today, J. Kumar owns 7 TBM machines working on projects day & night. With Mr. Nalin's efforts, J. Kumar is one of the biggest order book company for DMRC.

He is known for his ability to complete a project successfully without compromising on quality. His focus is on completing the projects in advance and answering the naysayers with its singular quality, which is the trademark of J. Kumar. Mr. Nalin Gupta has kept the J. Kumar flag flying high.

About J. Kumar Infraprojects Ltd.

With over four decades of experience in the infrastructure industry, J. Kumar Infraprojects have remained true to our commitment of nation building. Our strong track record of designing and constructing major infrastructure projects including highways, bridges, tunnels, railways, roads and civil constructions have enabled us to build a better future for the country, with an emphasis on improving connectivity and fostering economic growth. Our team of over 1500 engineers work tirelessly to deliver projects that meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and sustainability. As a result of the government's growing focus on infrastructure initiatives and our ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, we continue to strengthen our growth trajectory.

Focused on innovation and delivering excellence with a vision of creating an infrastructure eco-system, where quality and excellence is not an exception, but a norm and a mission to make extraordinary things possible, J. Kumar Infra has best standards in employee safety and ESG compliances with strong financial discipline and robust corporate governance.

member

Mr. Krishnam Raju Penumetcha

Member

Designation / Organization: Vice President, NCC Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Krishnam Raju P. is the Vice President of Central Business Development at NCC Limited, managing business development and strategy for major projects across various divisions, including buildings, transportation, water and environment, electrical transmission and distribution, irrigation, mining, and railways.

NCC Limited

NCC Limited (formerly Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited) is India's second-largest listed construction company. Founded in 1978 as a partnership firm by Padma Mr. Awardee Dr. AVS Raju (Founder and Chairman Emeritus), NCC became a limited company in 1990 and was listed on the National Stock Exchange in 1992. With revenues exceeding INR 20,000 crores, NCC undertakes construction projects across India in sectors including buildings, transportation, water and environment, electrical transmission and distribution, irrigation, mining, and railways. Headquartered in Hyderabad, NCC has regional offices in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, and Bangalore. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications for all fields of civil engineering works, including the design, development, and construction of industrial structures, residential and industrial buildings, and infrastructure projects for highways and airports.

member

Mr. Vimal Kejriwal

Member

Designation / Organization: MD & CEO, KEC International Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Chartered Accountant, ICAI; Company Secretary, ICSI; Alumnus: Kellogg School of Management, USA; Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), India

Mr. Vimal Kejriwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KEC International Limited, brings over four decades of rich experience in the Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Fertilisers, and Investment Banking sectors. He has been instrumental in driving the company's diversified growth across Power Transmission and Distribution, Railways, Civil, Urban Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Renewables, and Cables.

Mr. Kejriwal's professional journey is defined by his commitment to strategic expansion and operational excellence. Under his leadership, KEC has achieved remarkable growth, executed strategic acquisitions, enhanced manufacturing capabilities, and expanded its presence across multiple geographies. He has adeptly navigated KEC through complex challenges, strengthening its competitive edge as a global EPC company.

In addition to his role at KEC, Mr. Kejriwal serves on the Boards of KEC's subsidiaries and Raychem RPG Private Limited, an RPG Group company. He is an Executive council member of Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA) and Construction Federation of India (CFI), and serves actively on various committees in other associations.

About KEC International Limited

KEC International Limited, is the flagship company of the RPG Group. A USD 2.4 billion Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) major, KEC deliver projects in key infrastructure sectors such as Power Transmission & Distribution, Railways, Civil, Urban Infrastructure, Solar, Smart Infrastructure, Oil & Gas Pipelines, and Cables.

KEC's robust and integrated capabilities span the entire EPC value chain from 'concept to commissioning'. We have successfully executed complex projects across some of the world's most difficult terrains and conditions, aided by robust engineering, procurement, execution and project management capabilities. We have vast manufacturing footprint extending across India, Dubai, Brazil and Mexico. Our global presence has enabled a robust and agile supply chain that extends across six continents in over 105 countries.

For over 75 years, we have prided ourselves for our unmatched expertise in EPC, backed by a strong customer-centric approach, quest for world-class quality, and 'safety-first' attitude. Integrity in our actions and respect for people, environment and our stakeholders are the cornerstones of our corporate responsibility. Empowered by a mindset driven to outperform and excel, we build infrastructure for the world of tomorrow.

member

Mr. Yogen Lal

Member

Designation / Organization: CEO, Water Vertical, Welspun Enterprises Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Mr. Yogen Lal holds a Bachelors of Civil Engineering Degree from VJTI, Mumbai University and brings in over 3 decades of experience in Business Development, Procurement and Contract Management, besides P&L of business across various sectors such as buildings, airports, irrigation, underground metros and water in infrastructure space.

He has been in senior leadership positions in various infrastructure companies for the past 15 years and has successfully spearheaded execution of landmark projects across India for marquee clientele such as Delhi Metro, DJB, NBCC, BMC, CPWD, AAI, MKVDC besides a number of private entities.

In his current position as CEO of the water vertical at Welspun Enterprises, he is responsible for P&L of Water Business and is leading a team of 300 plus professionals.

Welspun Enterprises Ltd.

Welspun Enterprises Limited (WEL) is a developer with a difference and a part of USD 3.6 Billion global conglomerate Welspun World, having presence in Road and Water sectors of infrastructure for over 15 years. It has completed 6 major HAM and BOT Road projects in excess of Rs. 9000 Cr, including India's first 14 lane expressway on Delhi - Meerut route.

In the Water and Wastewater sector, WEL is actively involved in three major projects - a rural water supply initiative in Uttar Pradesh as part of the Government of India's Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing 6.5 lakh households with access to clean drinking water; a 418 MLD Wastewater Treatment Facility in Dharavi, Mumbai - India's first multi-storey wastewater treatment facility; and a 2000 MLD Water Treatment Plant at the Bhandup Complex in Mumbai, which stands as one of the world's largest by capacity. In 2023, WEL acquired 50.1% stake in Michigan Engineers Private Limited, a trenchless technology-based EPC company in the urban water infrastructure segment, to expand into the niche and promising areas of micro tunnelling, segment tunnelling, sewer network rehabilitation and other trenchless technologies across India.

member

Mr. M.V.Satish

Member

Designation / Organization: Member of Executive Committee, Advisor to Chairman & Managing Director, Lead Ambassador to Middle East, Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
Office-Bearers in National Council: Member

Mr. M. V. Satish has worked with L&T for nearly four decades. A Civil Engineering graduate from Bangalore University, he has completed a Senior Executive Programme from the prestigious London Business School.

He is credited with establishing and expanding L&T's footprint in the Gulf Region and achieving accelerated growth for the company. He was also the Chief Executive of L&T Oman LLC.

Under his Leadership and expertise, L&T successfully executed several landmark domestic and international projects viz. Salalah Greenfield Airport Project, Wankhede stadium, Mahatma Mandir, among others.

During his long association with L&T, Mr. Satish has headed various portfolios including Head - Buildings and Factories Business, where many projects like IT parks, multi-specialty hospitals, high rise residential projects, including the Statue of Unity have been executed.

About Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

Larsen & Toubro is a USD 27 billion Indian multinational engaged in EPC Projects, Hi-Tech Manufacturing and Services, operating in over 30 countries worldwide. A strong, customer- focused approach and the constant quest for top-class quality have enabled L&T to attain and sustain leadership in its major lines of business for eight decades. Recognized by Forbes as one of the most innovative companies in the world, L&T is also ranked 4th in the global list of Green Companies in the industrial sector by Newsweek. The Company has been executing all types of mega projects on a turnkey basis for more than eight decades, involving innovative design, comprehensive construction services that include procurement, supply, installation, testing and commissioning services. Sustainability is integral to L&T's corporate vision and the Company is committed to the society and environment.