Saurabh Gupta | 02 Jul, 2009
The infrastructure needs to be maintained and managed for its efficient use, enhancement of life, optimizing cost and giving confidence to investors to deploy capital in other infrastructure projects in India. The development of infrastructure should be supplemented with actively maintaining the existing projects opined Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis South Asia Pvt Ltd.

He was speaking at a Conference on Infrastructure Management, “Delivering Value in Turbulent Business Environments”, organized here today by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Magazine further stated that management of infrastructural assets has recently caught the attention of industry, and assumes more importance especially during the ongoing downturn. Securing assets is extremely important along with dealing with the cost aspect, green issues, carbon foot prints, increasing the life of assets etc.

Harpal Singh, Chairman, CII Northern Region & Mentor & Chairman Emeritus, Fortis Healthcare Ltd. referred to the Bandra – Worli Sea Link inaugurated yesterday that marked a project which created convenience for the public.

He further suggested that the public money utilized for developing infrastructural projects should be used wisely. The issues associated with land acquisition, farmers and stakeholders should be dealt-with in advance. Also more work should be undertaken in the infrastructural domain, while existing projects & ongoing work should be managed well and maintained right.

Lt Gen. Ashok Vasdeva, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (RETD) Additional Direction General, Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 said that security is of paramount importance during the upcoming games. He pointed that intelligence across borders is imperative for India, given the geo-political location of the country.  Technology would play a critical role in ensuring safety.

Rumjhum Chatterjee, Chairperson, CII Delhi State Council & Managing Director – Capacity Building Division, Feedback Ventures (P) Ltd urged the industry to innovate and device practices that minimize waste. She further added that resource efficient practices are essential to achieve operational efficiency as a long term strategy.

Speaking about enhancing the value of assets through effective infrastructure management, Mr. Arif Sheikh, Chief Operating Officer, Ansals Mall Management stated that Ansals has deployed state of the art technologies across their Malls to bring in cost efficiencies.  He suggested that implementing such projects and incorporating revolutionary innovations like waterless washrooms is ethically good and helps in achieving operational efficiency.

Anoop Kumar Gupta, General Manager – Maintenance, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) stated that DMRC is the first metro whose maintenance is certified ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007. DMRC is also a pioneer in the world for being able to make operational profits from day-one. He stated that this enterprising project is the best example of world class development and maintenance.

Gupta further added that as compared to global standards the maintenance costs are much lower in per router kilometer for DMRC.  About further progress on the development of Metro project in Delhi, he highlighted that 120 kms stretch of phase-II will be completed before the Commonwealth Games. All elevated corridors in this phase will have water harvesting system.