Kumar Salunkhe: Setting New Standards For Geotechnical Engineering In India & Across The Globe
Kumar Salunkhe
Founder & MD
Kumar’s academic journey began at RIT Sangli, where he laid the groundwork with a diploma in civil engineering. It was further solidified with a bachelor's degree from MIT, Pune University and then a post-graduate degree in geotechnical engineering from IIT Roorkee. An unexpected economic downturn led him to choose entrepreneurship and establish S & R Geotechniques, which today has turned into his self-made identity. CEO Insights is privileged to explore his journey and glean insights from his experiences.
What inspired you to pursue a career in civil engineering?
I come from a humble farming background and my father is still a farmer. I am the first to graduate with both a bachelor's and a master's degree.
My inspiration to pursue civil engineering began with my uncle, who worked in a contracting firm. Through him, I learned about the critical role civil engineering plays in the development of infrastructure projects, whether they are local or national. This understanding became an interest.
After completing my diploma, I was fortunate to be mentored by different gurus at each stage of my education, they steered me towards geotechnical engineering. It is a challenging field that involves hands-on work with soil and rock, requiring a deep understanding of nature's properties to analyze stability. This field is not as sought after as IT jobs that offer more conventional office settings and hours. However, the unique
challenges and the necessity of fieldwork in geotechnical engi- neering fascinated me.
How was your experience at IIT Roorkee and how it shaped you into a leader?
IIT Roorkee played an important role in my development as both an entrepreneur and a leader. Gaining admission to any IIT is a significant challenge itself, but the journey after that is equally rigorous and rewarding. IITs teach you to navigate difficult situations, which is a crucial skill in entrepreneurship.
For instance, the demanding assignments, surprise tests, and strict deadlines taught me the importance of time management and discipline. The negative marking system in exams taught precision and careful planning. Friendship and mentorship were also integral parts that shaped my professional ethos.
Tell us about your entry into business and take us through the journey.
I began my career in 2004 with a prominent geotechnical orga- nization in Navi Mumbai. As a design and execution engineer, I had the opportunity to contribute significantly to various infrastructure projects over a decade-long tenure. The economic recession in 2013 halted the civil industry’s growth. At that point, while the company faced a crisis, I took a bold leap into entre-preneurship.
Together with my long-time friend and fellow engineer, Sameer Patil, I co-founded SRGPL. What began as a modest venture with just four people has, over the past decade, evolved into one of the prominent geotechnical organizations. Today, SRGPL boasts a workforce of over 325 employees and a portfolio that spans the nation’s most prestigious infra-structure projects.
We have executed monumental projects such as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail, the Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Kanpur, Nagpur & Chennai Metro Projects, MTHL Atal Setu, Mumbai Coastal Road, Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge Project and railway corridors like the WDFCC project. We've also contributed to major highway
How was your experience at IIT Roorkee and how it shaped you into a leader?
IIT Roorkee played an important role in my development as both an entrepreneur and a leader. Gaining admission to any IIT is a significant challenge itself, but the journey after that is equally rigorous and rewarding. IITs teach you to navigate difficult situations, which is a crucial skill in entrepreneurship.
IIT Roorkee played an important role in my development as both an entrepreneur& a leader
For instance, the demanding assignments, surprise tests, and strict deadlines taught me the importance of time management and discipline. The negative marking system in exams taught precision and careful planning. Friendship and mentorship were also integral parts that shaped my professional ethos.
Tell us about your entry into business and take us through the journey.
I began my career in 2004 with a prominent geotechnical orga- nization in Navi Mumbai. As a design and execution engineer, I had the opportunity to contribute significantly to various infrastructure projects over a decade-long tenure. The economic recession in 2013 halted the civil industry’s growth. At that point, while the company faced a crisis, I took a bold leap into entre-preneurship.
Together with my long-time friend and fellow engineer, Sameer Patil, I co-founded SRGPL. What began as a modest venture with just four people has, over the past decade, evolved into one of the prominent geotechnical organizations. Today, SRGPL boasts a workforce of over 325 employees and a portfolio that spans the nation’s most prestigious infra-structure projects.
We have executed monumental projects such as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail, the Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Kanpur, Nagpur & Chennai Metro Projects, MTHL Atal Setu, Mumbai Coastal Road, Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge Project and railway corridors like the WDFCC project. We've also contributed to major highway
projects like the Pune – Mumbai Expressway Missing Link, Mumbai- Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway and the Delhi – Mumbai Expressway, to name a few. Our expertise also extends to providing Geotechnical services for port developments such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) expansion.
Moreover, our company's reach goes beyond Indian borders, with consultancy projects in South America, Australia, the UAE, and Qatar. One of our teams is working in Guyana, South America for the instrumentation & monitoring works for a highway project being built by Guyana Government.
Could you share some significant challenges you encountered?
It was indeed a very challenging decision and task to leave a smooth life with steady income. When I considered starting my own business, I sought advice from several people. Surprisingly, about 90 percent of them advised against it, saying it was too risky, especially since I was already 35 years old.
However, one of my mentors encouraged me to take the risk, assuring me that after five years, I would enjoy the journey. The biggest hurdle was the lack of capital. I had only around INR 5,000 to INR 10,000 in my account. We started with a small project worth INR 25,000.
Our first significant job was worth INR 1.5 lakhs, and I decided to withdraw about INR 4.5 lakhs from my Provident Fund to invest in the business. This allowed us to secure a major project in Gujarat worth INR 20 lakhs, which became a turning point for us. The project grew beyond its initial scope, eventually reaching around INR 35 lakhs. The initial four to five months were extremely tough. We faced difficulties in getting timely payments and managing salaries. However, just as my mentor predicted, the journey became enjoyable after the initial struggle. In over six years, SRGPL has grown to become one of the most preferred geotechnical firms in India. We now employ graduates from top institutions and have built a technically robust and competitive team.
Kumar Salunkhe, Founder & MD, S & R Geotechniques (SRGPL)
Kumar’s passion extends beyond business, to be a trainer and mentor – nurturing budding geotechnical engineers and guiding them towards excellence in India's engi-neering landscape.
Moreover, our company's reach goes beyond Indian borders, with consultancy projects in South America, Australia, the UAE, and Qatar. One of our teams is working in Guyana, South America for the instrumentation & monitoring works for a highway project being built by Guyana Government.
Could you share some significant challenges you encountered?
It was indeed a very challenging decision and task to leave a smooth life with steady income. When I considered starting my own business, I sought advice from several people. Surprisingly, about 90 percent of them advised against it, saying it was too risky, especially since I was already 35 years old.
However, one of my mentors encouraged me to take the risk, assuring me that after five years, I would enjoy the journey. The biggest hurdle was the lack of capital. I had only around INR 5,000 to INR 10,000 in my account. We started with a small project worth INR 25,000.
Our first significant job was worth INR 1.5 lakhs, and I decided to withdraw about INR 4.5 lakhs from my Provident Fund to invest in the business. This allowed us to secure a major project in Gujarat worth INR 20 lakhs, which became a turning point for us. The project grew beyond its initial scope, eventually reaching around INR 35 lakhs. The initial four to five months were extremely tough. We faced difficulties in getting timely payments and managing salaries. However, just as my mentor predicted, the journey became enjoyable after the initial struggle. In over six years, SRGPL has grown to become one of the most preferred geotechnical firms in India. We now employ graduates from top institutions and have built a technically robust and competitive team.
Kumar Salunkhe, Founder & MD, S & R Geotechniques (SRGPL)
Kumar’s passion extends beyond business, to be a trainer and mentor – nurturing budding geotechnical engineers and guiding them towards excellence in India's engi-neering landscape.