23 June : Shri Mahesh Kumar, Engineer-in-Chief, Haryana Public Works (Buildings & Roads) Department, has been selected as the Senior Vice President of the Indian Buildings Congress at its 3-day 16th Annual Convention concluded at New Delhi today. It is for the first time that any Haryana PWD Engineer have been Honoured for this assignment.
In the year 2009, Shri Mahesh Kumar was selected as Vice President of Indian Buildings Congress. Then also, he was the first Haryana PWD Engineer who has been honoured with this assignment.
The Indian Buildings Congress is an eminent body of buildings & structural engineers and all professionals connected with built environment, like administrators, financiers, planners, developers, architects, engineers of all disciplines, horticulturists, builders, researchers, teachers and manufacturers of building materials.
A highly qualified engineer, Shri Mahesh Kumar, 50 years, joined Haryana PWD as Sub Divisional Engineer in February, 1983 and served on various positions during his last 26 years of career. He is performing his duties as Engineer-in-Chief since June, 2007. He is technical and administrative head of Haryana PWD (B&R).
Shri Mahesh Kumar had also been conferred Outstanding Concrete Engineer of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana award on September 26, 2008 by Indian Concrete Institute. Shri Mahesh Kumar has also written many technical papers relating to buildings infrastructure especially relating to protection against Natural Hazards i.e. Seismic Forces. He has also been honoured by various prestigious bodies. Seven technical papers were written by Shri Mahesh Kumar which had been published in various prestigious journals such as Indian Roads Congress and Indian Buildings Congress etc. The technical papers relate to “Effect of Water Storage Tanks and Irrigation Water Carrying Structures on Roads”, “Failures in flexible pavements and its economical treatment”, “Geotechnology for infrastructure Development”, “High Rise Buildings – Innovations in Seismic Design”, “Water and its importance in construction”, “Challenges of Globalisation to PWD System”, “Building Infrastructure in Haryana : Solutions and Challenges etc.
Earlier, He had also worked as Vice President of Indian Roads Congress. He is also Convenor/Member of various Technical Committees of the Indian Roads Congress. He had been a key note speaker in many technical seminars organized by prestigious organizations.
Under his able chairmanship, following two codes for Indian Roads Congress have been finalized and are ready for publication:-
· Recommended practice for construction of Earth embankment and subgrade for road works (IRC36-2010 )
· Guidelines for Soil & Granular Material Stabilization using Cement, Lime & Fly Ash
He is also an expert in highway projects. He had handled BOT projects when he was posted as Chief General Manager in National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for almost two years from August, 2005 to May, 2007. While in NHAI, he successfully implemented/awarded the Public Private Partnership i.e. BOT projects costing over Rs.5000 crore. Important among them being Ambala-Chandigarh (NH-21/22), Amritsar-Jallandhar, Amritsar-Wagah border, Kurali-Kiratpur, Zirakpur-Pinjore-Kalka-Parwanoo (NH-22), Delhi-Rohtak (NH-10), Jaipur-Mahua-Bharatpur-Agra etc.
He had been instrumental in bringing the first BOT project of such kind in PWD(B&R) of Haryana State i.e. 4-lanning of Gurgaon-Faridabad & Widening and Strengthening of Ballabhgarh-Pali-Dhauj-Sohna.
In Haryana PWD (B&R), Rajiv Gandhi Bridges & Roads Infrastructure Development Programme costing Rs.3000 Crores is being successfully implemented under his able leadership. This programme was planned for grounding of projects of at least Rs.3000 crores by 31st March, 2010. The projects costing Rs.3112 crores have been brought on ground by 31st March, 2009 i.e. one year ahead of the schedule.
He has been very innovative in brings new ideas for improving the working and quality of the works of Haryana PWD (B&R). One such examples is Mobile Maintenance Highway Vans which have been developed within the department under his able leadership to repair the potholes and patchwork. Mobile Maintenance Highway Vans has numerous advantages over traditional system of patchwork being environmental friendly.
