Personnel

Shirish B Patel,
Chairman - Emeritus

Email

shirish@spacpl.com

Introduction

Shirish B Patel is a Civil Engineer with interests that extend to the engineering design of public works, notably dams, bridges, and marine structures; urban planning and urban affairs; the planning of factories, and other complexes that benefit from an inter-disciplinary approach; solar energy research; and software development.

He founded the firm, in 1960.

Professional Background

  • Mechanical Sciences Tripos Parts I & II, M A (Hons) University of Cambridge
  • Fellow of ICE, IE(I), ACI
  • Member of ASCE, IABSE, CEA(I), ACM
  • Associate Member of IASSS

Representative Project Experience

  • Was one of the three original authors of a plan to develop a 350 km2 new city (New Bombay) across the harbour (1965). Employed by the Government of Maharashtra for 5 years, in the role of Chief Planner for the new city, responsible for co-ordinating the work of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of economists, sociologists, transportation and city planners, architects and engineers, as well as the construction team. (1970-1974).
  • Principal designer for Large-panel precast residential buildings at Petit Hall, Bombay with lowest 3 stores cast-in-situ and 27 upper stories fully precast. To test the adequacy of the precast system, a 3-storey high full-scale mock-up using large panels and joints as proposed in the final construction was first built and tested. (1966-1970)
  • Invented Vertical axis louvers for Ventilation, Humidification using ‘Khus’ infill in galvanised iron frames, Strip Skylight for roof using figured glass (patented) instead of conventional North light for factories, Light reflectors. These inventions are widely used in various factories designed by SPA.
  • Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (1996-1999)
  • Solar Energy Research : Since 1980 in Land Research Institute, a not-for-profit Trust, of which Mr Patel is the founder and President. Recent work in collaboration with the University Department of Chemical Technology has led to the development of a cooking pot that promises dramatic savings in fuel consumption for cooking. (1980-to date)
  • Executive Committee Bombay Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (1983-96)
  • Kariba Dam, Zambezi river : Worked with Coyne & Bellier, Consulting Engineers, Paris on the design of Kariba Dam on the Zambezi. Conducted 1:100 scale plaster-of-paris model studies, loading the dam with mercury and measuring strains. Also developed the specifications and measurement practices for the cooling of concrete in the dam. (1955-1956)
  • Koyna Dam : Senior civil engineer with the Contractors for Koyna Dam, in charge of planning, and design and supervision of all temporary works, including cable crane foundations. (1956-1958)
  • Calico Mills, Bombay : As Chief Civil Engineer, in charge of planning, design and construction supervision of two new chemicals factories. (1958-1960)

Vasudev V Nori, Chairman

Email

nori@spacpl.com

Introduction

Vasudev V Nori is a Civil Engineer whose interests include :

  • Planning and development of innovative structural designs of a variety of structures
  • Setting out office procedures for design, analysis and drafting procedures with a view to render high quality professional service
  • interaction with academic institutions as an external examiner, members of board of studies, delivering invited lectures on special topics

He joined the firm in 1965 as a Senior Engineer.

Professional Background :

  • B E Civil (Hons), 1957 VJTI Bombay University
  • D Sc Tech, 1965, EPFL, Lausanne (Switzerland)
  • Fellow, Institution of Engineers India
  • Life Member, Consulting Engineer’s Association of India
  • Life Member, Indian Concrete Institute

Awards :

  • 1993 -National Design Award - Institution of Engineers (India)
  • 1994 -FIP award for Most Outstanding Structure Washington at XIIth FIP Congress
  • 2003 -Felicitations by Dr Adam Neville for Excellence in Design of Concrete structures - American Concrete Institute - India Chapter
  • 2005 Outstanding Concrete Technologist Award - Indian Concrete Institute
  • 2009 S B Joshi Memorial Award for Excellence in Structural and Bridge Engineering, Pune
  • 2011 Life Time Achievement Award Indian Concrete Institute (Maharashtra Chapter)
  • 2012 Gourav Award “Most Significant Contributions to Civil Engineering Consultancy - Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India).

Representative Project Experience

Design and overall charge of a variety of innovative structures “First time application in India “

  • incremental launching for a 423 m long prestressed concrete bridge with 40 m spans and with tall pier heights up to 65 m above the river bed. Panval Nadi Viaduct, Konkan Railway Corporation. (Winner of ACI India Chapter Award 1995)
  • Factory building in Precast concrete using pretensioned hypar shells (2.5 m wide 20 m span), with 20 m x 20 m column spacing and 14.5 m high precast panels designed for future extensions for L&T Bangalore. (1975)
  • Factory building in Precast concrete with funicular trusses 30 m spans, 12 m span pretensioned purlins and 17 m high precast branched columns for Bharat Heavy Electricals Hyderabad. (1983)
  • Precast Prestressed Elevated Viaduct 7 km long with integral form of construction in Dwarka sub city for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. (2004)
  • Precast Prestressed Elevated Viaduct four lane flyover with metro viaduct running above supported on a single pier at Jaipur for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. (2013)
  • 45 m x 90m aircraft hangars in structural steel fabricated at ground level and lifted to final position about 12 m above ground level (1981)
  • Administrative building for ECC -L&T at Madras: The upper four storeys of the structure are supported on four overlapping prestressed hollow pyramids and four hollow piers. (Winner of FIP Award 1994)

Narendra M Ajugia, Vice Chairman & CEO

Email

ajugia@spacpl.com

Introduction

N M Ajugia is a Civil and Structural Engineer whose interests include:

  • the structural design of various structure
  • quality control and construction planning

He joined the firm, in 1982.

Professional Background

  • B E (Civil Engineering) with Honours, University of Bombay 1981 Fellow, Institution of Engineers India

Representative Project Experience

  • Design of various multi-storeyed buildings for Residential, Hotels, IT Parks ranging above 15 storied with transfer girders. At present under design & execution & 70 storied building at Mumbai with Out Triggered Trusses for improving lateral load system.
  • Design including preparation of mould drawings for Precast Industrial building for Railway Workshop at Aqaba, Jordon having precast elements like shell, folded plate, column, gantry girders.
  • Design, preparation of estimates and contracts, project co-ordination for Industrial Complex at Nashik for M & M Ltd. The total area of project is 100,000 Sqm for manufacturing of Jeeps and Escort cars.
  • Design, preparation of estimates and contracts, project co-ordination for Industrial Complex at Igatpuri for M & M Ltd. The total area of project is 40,000 Sqm for manufacturing of Jeep Engines.
  • Design, preparation of estimation for Polyester plant at Hazira for Reliance Industries Ltd having two Industrial buildings with total area of 200,000 Sqm. The project includes heavy machines, silos, conveyors located at various levels.
  • Computerization of Town Planning maps for Vasai- Virar Sub- region at Bombay.

Deepak S Gadkari, Managing Director

Email

deepak@spacpl.com

Introduction

Deepak S Gadkari is a Civil and Structural Engineer whose interests include:

  • Design, detailing, estimation, co-ordination of Bridges, Flyovers, Elevated Viaducts and structures like Hotel, Malls, IT park etc.

He joined the firm in, 2006.

Professional Background

  • B E (Civil) with Honours, University of Mumbai, 1996
  • Diploma in Civil Engineering, University of Mumbai, 1993

Representative Project Experience

  • Widening lengthening existing road over bridge with metro viaduct running above for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Kochi.
  • Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon Phase I with pretensioned box girders, special spans in structural steel.
  • Substructure for Mand River bridge.
  • Design of proof checking of load out quay walls.
  • Design of Commercial, Institutional, Factory and Administration buildings, Corporation buildings and restoration of heritage structure.
  • Proof checking - Design of prestressed pre-tension and post-tension I-girder & Box girder, Design of piers, Design of open well and pile foundation.
  • Design of Steel Structure for Multi-storeyed buildings, Commercial & Industrial structures.
  • Design of RCC Structures – Multi-storeyed Residential buildings.

Mahesh S Tharval, Technical Director

Email

mahesh@spacpl.com

Introduction

Mahesh S Tharval is a Civil and Structural Engineer whose interests include:

  • Design of various civil engineering structures
  • Infrastructure planning and development
  • Automation of design procedures

He joined the firm, in 2004.

Professional Background

  • B E (Civil), University of Mumbai in 1997

Representative Project Experience

  • Design of Bridges for Roads Metros with RCC & Prestressed Girders box Girders
  • Design of Subway, Design of various types of retaining walls & Abutments.
  • Design of buildings for Commercial, Institutional & Administration, residential usages.
  • Design of Factories with heavy EOT cranes, Machine foundations.
  • Proof checking of prestressed pre-tensioned and post-tensioned girders & Box girders, piers, pen well and pile foundations.