The YEDG is honored to start the second week of it's interview series talking to Mr.Paramjit Singh Sahai.A graduate in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi, 1977 batch, Mr. Sahai has a vast experience of over three decades in the fields of design, planning, marketing, execution and project management of civil construction projects/turnkey chemical processes plants and waste water treatment plants. He has previously worked with renowned organizations including Engineers India Ltd., Era Constructions, Shriram Projects, and contributed in the establishment of major engineering projects, including the Mathura Oil Refinery, Malanjkhand Copper Project and Panipat Fertilizer Project. He was also involved as a founder member of a new company called WTD ERA Ltd., as a joint venture between Era constructions and an Italian firm WTD srl.
In April 2003, Mr. Sahai established his own firm, EPA Infrastructure, which performs various specialist construction services. Through EPA Infrastructures, Mr. Sahai is committed to provide low cost housing to millions of homeless people and there by add another feather in his cap and give a new dimension to the field of entrepreneurship.
1. How would you define your journey from a humble background to a position from where you plan to change the lives of millions through your innovative vision?
It has been a learning experience. I believe one needs to learn till maturity before anyone can contribute to society. Learning had to be first technical and thereafter sociology and in interpersonal relationships before I could get into a position where I could influence others.
2. How and when did you decide to start a business of your own?
Since I.I.T days in 1976. It had always been in my mind. It was a difficult decision to take since my family is from a service background. Only after 26 yrs of leaving I.I.T could I start my own work.
3. What have been the major challenges that you have faced so far in promoting EPA Infrastructure? Has there been a defining moment or experience which told you that you could make a difference through your organization?
It has been a smooth journey as far as work and time is concerned. I never felt a change in work style from service to private business. When I was employed I had to work under rigid work lines. Only self owned organization could help to free up myself and interact to customers in my own way. Even as a Director with GS Developers & Contractors, I felt constrained.
4. Tell us about your vision of low cost housing. How do you intend to achieve it? Have there been any developments in this direction?
Like the Steel Authority of India advt. says "There is a little bit of SAIL in every body's life." I have always felt developing a sustainable business means touching as many lives as possible.
To achieve this one needs to address matters that concern everybody. To achieve low cost housing on a mass scale, I plan to integrate various knowledge sources and customer bases, establish linkages with them and with funding agencies having interest in this field to be able to achieve a high growth rate and touch a large customer base.
In order to achieve this we are building linkages with housing welfare organization of the govt. and private sector this work is currently under progress.
We have also established linkages with private equity funds that have interest in mass housing projects.
The greatest challenge nowadays is to tie up with land owners with a similar vision who will collaborate with us on an equity sharing business. We are looking at projects PAN India.
5. Most of the minds today opt for entrepreneurship in the soft-sectors such as consulting, or software. Few, if any, are interested in joining the leagues of players in the core sectors like construction. What according to you can be the incentives for the youth to look forward to a future in this sector? What would be your message to them?
Soft/service sectors can develop and achieve potential only if the infrastructure adequately supports the sector.. This is what will enable more entrepreneurs to focus on core and infrastructure sectors. This message needs to be disseminated and understood well.
6. What was the basic intuition in your mind before setting up your business line and how you made the best use resources available to you?
The intention was to interact with those who are in touch with me, my way.
7. To grab the market opportunities what are your most important strengths that you use to overcome your weaknesses?
Analytical skills and speedy execution are the most important strengths that I use to overcome my weaknesses.
8. As an Entrepreneur what were your strengths that you need to convert into business opportunities?
Understanding the opportunity, analyzing how to address it and seizing it with speedy implementation.
9. Which is the most challenging Job, being an employee- to meet deadlines or being a entrepreneur- to take major decisions?
All works are required. Vision, Decision making, Implementation and Hard work contribute to success.
10. So being at the level of visionary for your company what sort of strategies do you use for your financial and human resources? Which is the most important in your view and why?
Human Resources are the only resource. All else is created by Human Resource.
We hope that this interview proves to be both inspirational and informative for all our fellow members. We wish Mr. Sahai all the luck for a huge success in his endeavor. All those interested in finding out more about Mr. Sahai and his work, can get in touch with him through the YEDG.
