The essence of reality is surprisingly simple: a flow of time (past, present, and future) experienced through our consciousness. However, our limited understanding makes it appear incredibly complex. As we gain knowledge and wisdom, we become more awestruck by this fundamental simplicity of our existence. This isn’t only an engineering attitude; it’s science in its purest form. It’s the magic of scientific discovery translated into the technological marvels of our daily lives.
This quintessential idea of simple living and high thinking is Vikramjiet Roy’s leadership persona. As the Region Head for India, South-East Asia, and the Pacific at Officine Maccaferri, Vikramjiet has cultivates a holistic culture of openness, sympathy, camaraderie, interpersonal communication, mutual respect, collaboration, and vibrancy reflected in the company’s resolute teamwork.
His leadership goes beyond the boardroom, demonstrating a deep commitment to driving sustainable innovation in civil engineering. Vikramjiet reinforces Maccaferri’s position as a leader in advanced geotechnical, environmental, and infrastructure solutions, helping the company address complex challenges in transportation, urban infrastructure, and more.
Pioneering Growth and Innovation
Vikramjiet is a dynamic first-generation entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience across diverse industries, including industrial products, civil engineering, and core infrastructure. Known for his exceptional people management skills, his determination has turned his aspirations into reality. A graduate of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, with an Associate Membership in ICWA, he has held leadership roles for over 30 years. Under his leadership, Maccaferri has grown over 30 times in the past decade and has become an industry leader in India. His focus on technical excellence has also nurtured top talent within the company.
Vikramjiet’s success comes from his strategic mindset, risk management skills, and long-term vision. His active participation in national and international forums, combined with a commitment to inclusiveness and transparency, has enhanced his standing as a respected leader. His journey reflects dedication to professional excellence and meaningful contributions to both industry and society.
Maccaferri’s 25-Year Journey
Maccaferri has been a key player in India for over 25 years, contributing to the country’s rapid growth and development. The company offers innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions, aiming to drive eco-friendly practices. Maccaferri envisions itself as a contributor to future infrastructure by offering natural, environmentally friendly materials. With the availability of its cutting-edge technologies within India, Maccaferri helps minimize the need for costly imports while supporting local project execution. The company is committed to be a game changer in the industry by leading advancements in infrastructure in particular roads and highways, railways, mining, river control works, hill protection and urban, while actively reducing carbon footprints.
Over the years, Maccaferri has also invested in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, establishing a strong presence with production units in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, and Una, Himachal Pradesh, to support its commitment to excellence and sustainability across the country.
Innovating for a Greener Tomorrow
Maccaferri prides itself on being an innovator in the engineering and construction sectors. The company is globally recognized for pioneering the use of gabions and setting standards for sustainable construction solutions. It continues to lead with advanced solutions such as reinforced soil structures, hydraulic works, erosion control, and rockfall protection. Maccaferri’s investments in research and development continuously enhance materials and designs to make them eco-friendly and efficient.
- From Design to Development: Maccaferri goes beyond selling products by providing tailored solutions that address the specific needs of its clients. The company collaborates with clients from the initial stages of a project, offering value-driven technical expertise and a comprehensive portfolio of quality products —from design to development, manufacturing, and installation—with the goal of solving civil engineering problems efficiently and effectively.
- Sustainability Excellence: Environmental protection is central to Maccaferri’s approach. Its solutions are crafted with a focus on preserving the environment and ensuring a high quality of life for future generations. The firm creates custom solutions that optimize construction time and cost while minimizing environmental impact. Transparency is key to its sustainability efforts, and it provides reliable, objective data about the life-cycle environmental impact of its products. Maccaferri aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on goals to combat climate change and protect ecosystems.
- Innovation & Research: Our emphasis on research and development allows us to constantly innovate solutions for civil engineering challenges. Our expertise extends development of advanced solutions through continual Improvement and R&D. The know how is available for designers, consultants, academicians and client on edesign web-based platform which hosts our advanced software for optimized design, and tailored to client needs.
- Certifications: Maccaferri ensures its products meet the highest international standards, certified and tested by leading institutes. This commitment to environmentally responsible solutions is further validated by certifications like the CE mark, British Board of Agrément (BBA) Certificate, Indian Standards Institute (ISI), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and NF validation, among others.
Balancing Innovation and Customer Satisfaction
Vikramjiet’s leadership at Maccaferri fosters collaboration, innovation, and trust. He believes that true leadership goes beyond setting a direction, involving empowering team members to contribute their best efforts. His approach is rooted in creating an environment where individuals feel valued and aligned with the organization’s vision.
Innovation lies at the core of Maccaferri’s success. Vikramjiet encourages his team to challenge the status quo and experiment with new ideas. He prioritizes integrity, transparency, and a strong work ethic, fostering a culture where employees feel empowered to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities.
Maccaferri continually invests in research and development to introduce innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency. By adopting solution-oriented approaches, the company nurtures team development to cultivate the expertise necessary for tackling complex challenges.
Moreover, the employees at Maccaferri play a vital role in balancing efficiency and customer satisfaction. The organization invests in training and development, empowering its workforce with the skills and knowledge necessary to innovate and deliver exceptional service.
Impact on Geotechnical and Environmental Construction
Maccaferri’s reputation as a leader in civil geotechnical and environmental construction stems from its focus on solution-oriented approaches and innovation. The company has delivered advanced solutions, including hybrid reinforced soil structures, flood control measures, and geosynthetics for complex structures.
Recent projects include the Atal Tunnel, the Lambagarh landslide mitigation project, and the USBRL railway link., showcases Maccaferri’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and client satisfaction.
Throughout its journey in India, Maccaferri has provided solutions for the number of prestigious government and non-government projects to tackle complex infrastructure challenges. Here are a few recent endeavors that showcase their expertise:
- Atal Tunnel
Constructed at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level, the Atal Tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel. To provide avalanche protection using sustainable solutions, Maccaferri utilized pre-assembled flexible snow umbrella units known as ErdoX snow units. These pyramid-shaped metallic structures are stable, lightweight, and easy to transport and install. This innovative solution not only safeguards people and infrastructure from natural calamities but also ensures smooth year-round road connectivity.
- Lambagarh
Maccaferri undertook one of the largest landslide mitigation projects in Lambagarh, Uttarakhand, located on NH-58, the road leading to the Badrinath temple. To protect the road from the potential danger of falling debris and rocks, a rockfall embankment spanning 320 meters in length and standing 10 meters tall was constructed. In addition, to facilitate road widening, a reinforced soil wall structure was built with maximum height of 44 meters and covering a stretch of 500 meters. This project involved the innovative use of Terramesh and ParaLink reinforcement at the hillside base too effectively counteract destabilizing forces in confined spaces, ultimately enhancing road safety and quality.
- USBRL Project
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project aims to connect Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India. Maccaferri provided a flexible hybrid reinforced soil (RS) structure for railways at locations 40, 41, 42, and 43 of the USBRL project. Bridges 40, 41, and 42 were constructed to support the railway embankment/formation, while bridge 43 was built near the Chenab bridge. This marked the first time Indian Railways used a reinforced soil system at such heights. Maccaferri’s geosynthetic solutions, which are sustainable and economical, replaced conventional solutions. Approximately 300,000 cubic meters of tunnel muck—a site-won waste from tunnel excavation—was utilized to build the reinforced soil structure instead of concrete, reducing carbon emissions and cutting costs by up to 50%.
- Khandala Tunnel, Pune Corridor
Located on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Khandala Tunnel experienced several landslide and rockfall events during the monsoon season from June to August 2015, leading to casualties and traffic disruptions. After thorough study, Maccaferri developed an impact mitigation strategy to address the issue. Rock scaling, subsurface drainage, and a rock slope stabilization system were employed for rockfall mitigation above and near the tunnel portals. This work was completed in December 2016, successfully withstanding the subsequent monsoon and ensuring smooth traffic flow.
Through these projects, Maccaferri continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and sustainable solutions, reinforcing its status as a prominent player in the engineering and construction sectors.
Building a Strong Workforce
Maccaferri India is deeply committed towards fostering a positive, growth-oriented work culture and believes that its team is the company’s greatest asset. The organization nurtures a culture of growth and empowerment by offering training programs and opportunities for professional development, enabling team members to enhance their technical and functional expertise and leadership capabilities.
Maccaferri India’s recognition as a Great Place to Work is a testament to its inclusive culture, camaraderie, and commitment to equal opportunities. Maccaferri India is committed towards an environment where team feel valued, trusted, and empowered. A culture of inclusivity and equal opportunities further reinforces the idea that the company is focused on cultivating a supportive, collaborative, and high-performing workforce.
The Maccaferri Leadership Model nurtures future leaders to embrace leadership roles and develop essential skills that will help them navigate both personal and organizational growth.
Empowering Future Leaders
Recognizing that India has been significantly affected by growing climatic imbalances, Vikramjiet points out that rising global temperatures have resulted in severe heat waves, erratic monsoons, flash floods, tropical cyclones, and increasing sea levels. He believes India must prioritize building a green economy with sustainability at the core of its development plans, especially considering that 75% of the infrastructure needed by 2050 has yet to be constructed. With the government committing to achieving carbon neutrality by 2070, the responsibility lies with ‘Young India.’
Vikramjiet advocates for the new generation of civil engineers to prioritize sustainability and climate-resilient infrastructure in all upcoming construction projects. He highlights the immediate need for a focus on value engineering and sustainable development to enhance the quality, dependability, and durability of infrastructure being built in India. He urges the youth entering the civil and construction industry to prioritize sustainable development and adopt a systematic approach to create structures that fulfil infrastructure needs without harming the environment.
