SUMIT SIMLAI

Peoject Direction of Lines 7 and 2B of Mumbai Metro, complete with civil, structural, architecture, MEP, Railway systems. Already commissioned Line 7. Line 2B and Depot in the works.

Technical coordination and monitoring of railway systems component of regional projects

General Consultancy Services (GC) for Mumbai Urban Transport Project III Project covering Bid Process Management and Project Management Services for a) Quadrupling of Virar-Dahanu Road (64 RKM) on Western Railway; b) Double Line commuter corridor between Panvel-Karjat (30 RKM) on Central Railway; c) Mid-Section Trespass Control Measures



Features
:
Railway projects under MUTP-III (Mumbai Urban Transport Project) are being implemented by MRVC (Mumbai Rail Vikas Limited), an SPV formed for implementation of railway projects in and around Mumbai.

Virar-Dahanu Road section of Western Railway is part of the existing oversaturated busy double mainline between Mumbai and Ahmedabad / Delhi route, which is being shared for running suburban services on the Western Railway. In order to address increasing suburban traffic demand on this route, quadrupling between Virar-Dahanu Road is imperative to construct additional double line, which will also provide extension of suburban services from Churchgate to Dahanu Road.

A new Panvel-Karjat double line suburban corridor is also in the works to cater to the significant urbanisation while providing an alternate route from Karjat to CSTM via Panvel, thus shortening the route by 23 Km (40 minutes) as compared to the existing route via Kalyan.

The role covers supporting the management of GC team and client and providing technical support in bid process management for the following MUTP III components:
a) Quadrupling of Virar-Dahanu Road (3rd and 4th lines) (64 RKM) (BG - 25 KV Electrified) on Western Railway.
b) Double Line commuter corridor between Panvel-Karjat (30 RKM) (BG - 25 KV Electrified) on Central Railway.
c) Mid-Section Trespass control works at 36 locations in Mumbai suburban section of Central and Western Railway (Supply, Installation & Commissioning of Escalator/Elevator).

A) Project direction for Lucknow Metro- outstanding issues of traction, rolling stock, signalling; new works; contractual close out; snag list items, variations.

(B) Also responsible for Kanpur-Agra Metro System works- review of DDC (SYSTRA & TATA Consulting Engineers) submissions for railway systems, bid technical document preparation, preparation of RAMS specifications etc for dc traction, bid evaluation, rolling stock & signalling contract startup, rolling stock vendor approval for brakes, doors, couplers, carbody, signalling vendor approvals for trackside beacons, point machines, axle counters.

Supervision of construction, installation, testing and commissioning of railway systems, ballastless track and MEP systems for LRT JABODEBEK project in Greater Jakarta.

Tasks
• Prepare a detailed Resident Engineer’s Manual applicable for each discipline under my charge
• Be responsible for construction, installation, testing and commissioning
• Be the Owner’s Representative on site for phase wise target revenue delivery
• Be the Key contact for Contractor for day to day construction works;
• Provide construction supervision management and governance to achieve reliable project performance in terms of meeting requirements, timeliness and quality;
• Ensure, at all times, that contractual and global standards are respected
• Study the accepted Quality Assurance program for the project.
• Contribute to providing leadership to team on the project to ensure cohesion, optimal performance, resourcing, retention and professional development;
• Monitor, through a team of 5 Co-Resident Engineers and 17 Site Inspectors, the day-to-day progress in readiness of site access, construction, installation, testing and commissioning activities
• Monitor the Contractor's Work Programme and manage progress and acceleration processes to ensure target dates are met as agreed with the Client;
• Review, comment and sign on:
 Contractor’s method statements to ensure workability, ensuring that the approved design is truly reflected in the procedure
 Installation, testing and commissioning plans
 Detailed inspection checklists
 Shop drawings, circuit diagrams, scheme plans, equipment mounting and installation practices, cable and cable tray routing etc.
• Manage additional Work required, Extensions of Time, Requests for Inspection (RFI), Release of Hold Points; Review and prepare approvals for Progress Payments;
• Ensure RFI document is complete, correct and appended with key documents
• Supervise on the basis of fully documented RFI:
 Material on Site Delivery
 Construction of trackworks and related superstructure
 Installation of railway system components on trackside and at stations
 Preliminary acceptable tests
 Partial Acceptance tests
 System Acceptance tests
 Integrated Testing and Commissioning
• Monitor and review hindrances and access on a regular basis
• Issue Non-Conformance Statements for works not meeting the requirements of design- construction compliance matrices and actual site conditions
• Issue Site Instructions to improve quality at no additional cost to the Employer
• Prepare Punch Lists and List of Outstanding Works
• Report to the Project Manager and the Construction Manager on construction matters on periodic basis and on all matters to be elevated with the contractor, client and railway operator management
• Insist on implementation of best practices by the contractor including any construction reworks that may be necessary without getting on critical path;
• Insist on resourcefulness of the contractor in being able to control and manage multiple worksites simultaneously, without compromising Quality, Cost and Delivery principles;
• Ensure that sub-contractors are fully qualified and are following the stipulations of the contract;
• Develop and maintain a project-specific Risk Register and ensure all identified mitigation actions are undertaken to prevent unacceptable increases in costs;
• Assist in the Set-up, tailoring and improvement of the existing construction supervision database system;
• Support the Quality Control Expert in checking quality aspects at site;
• Assist the Chief Construction Manager in the Coordination of communications between field supervision teams and Design Review Team / Client and Stakeholders;
• Contribution to the Team through professional knowledge, Ideas, energy and enthusiasm offered;
• Ensure professional ethics are maintained;
• Be aware of, and act within, own physical capabilities
• Ensure appropriate construction site safety conduct

Profit Centre Head and Principle In charge of all rail based transportation projects including design and supervision management and bringing in new businesses.

Responsible for the overall direction, management and supervision, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of the Project with first class Project Management Service to the Client, to the desired quality standard in accordance with the project schedules. Planning of works, Scheduling, Project Management, Safety, Quality Control and Quality Assurance, budgets, Cost Control, Programming of Works, Project Administration, completed audits, monthly reports, technical and contractual evaluations, employment of staff. Assisting the employer in respect of contract implementation, claims, arbitration and litigation. Manages a team of more than 50 staff that monitors construction, co-ordination with external authorities, land issues, quality control, design review, environmental and safety issues, program, administration, etc and ensures design compliance.

Managing the addressing and managing of claims across the project, assisting the Project commercial teams in preparation of correspondence, delay and claim reports, recommendations, etc., and final check and review before issuing to the Client.

Monitoring the implementation of environmental impact measures during construction works; Review the Contractor’s EMP implementation plans, providing directions on preventive and corrective actions for effective EMP implementation. Monitoring contractors operations, construction planning & scheduling using Management Information System (MIS), Implementation of modern construction techniques, developing project progress Management and QA & QC systems.
A bullet-pointed summary is given below:
• Responsible as the “The Engineer”
• Managing PMC team led by Team Leader, Project Managers, Resident Engineers, Experts and Field Supervisors through review meetings and issuance of minutes and action plans
• Contract management, time extensions, programme administration, implement risk mitigation plans for identified confirmed risks
• Ensure optimum team staffing based on contractor’s physical and financial progress,
• Prepare project budget and implement project control procedures, and demonstrate maintenance of healthy project financial performance
• Ensure compliance with organisational quality assurance system and project specific QA procedure
• Ensure implementation of project performance parameters in line with acceptable international and Indian Railway standards and compliances involving safety, design specifications, material and construction quality
• Manage robust client interfaces to achieve timely approval of deliverables, staffing and contractual issues
• Review and monitor Project QA and monthly reports
• Monitor quality and time performance of contractor(s) at all levels viz., soil testing, material deliveries like sand, ballast, sleepers, fabricated steel, concrete, rails, points and crossings, overhead catenary cables and masts and portals, signal cables, trackside and indoor signalling equipment including point machines, signal posts and lights, wayside communicaiton devices and transmission cables etc.
• Ensure site safety, health and environmental compliances are checked and improvements advised for implementation
• Ensure contractor IPC / RAB are correctly verified and approved for payment without liability to the PMC
• Monitor team performance, ensure individual professional development and enforce disciplinary compliances
• Consultant’s Representative and Principle In- charge
• Management of the activities of Team Leader (Expat)
• Supervision of home office deliverables
• Coordination with Consortium partners
• Lead the preparation and submission of reports

Main Responsibilities:
- Overall management of the Rail business
- Manage all project directors and project managers (including expatriates)
- Act as the Principal for Rail Projects
- Develop a corporate core team with 6 reports
- Responsible for approval of recruitments, signing of contracts, approval of invoices and management reporting
- Business Development,
- Approver for responding to client or public complaints and business procedures
- Reviewer for fees and bids
- Responsible for business development,
- Responsible for approving and leading advertising, press releases, correspondences with media, marketing material - new brochures, new web site establishment and participation in trade shows / exhibition
- Approving and authorization authority for project sheets and curriculum vitae
- Adherence to company Business Systems and Management reporting requirements
- Business Growth - diversity, volumes and margins
- Client Relationship Management
- Pursuit Management
- Negotiations, Contractual and Commercial issues and strategies
- Project delivery monitoring
- Major Project Reviews - commercial and contractual
- Ensuring staff growth through appropriate HR management
Key Achievements:
- Improved staffing shortfalls for the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor project and hence improved productivity and revenues
- Won and signed the 2nd phase General Consultancy contract for the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor project
- Won a medium sized yet significant pre-feasibility study for Hyderabad - Chennai High Speed Line project
- Won and completed a feasibility study project for Mitubishi Corp targeting setting up rolling stock factories in India
- Creating and motivating a small task force to run major rail projects across the country

Main Responsibilities:
The client asked for me as a replacement for an expatriate to troubleshoot:
(a) team performance and morale
(b) client relationships
(c) invoicing backlogs
Key functions:
- systems planning and coordination with civil, structural, architectural
- ensuring seamless system integration, besides managing systems functionalities, interface and performance requirements
- system activity planning, coordination and integration of rail systems
- Defining systems architecture, interface specifications and sub-system performance requirements based on operational and safety requirements e.g. operational headway, train consist / rakes, traffic requirements, safety aspects, passenger flow, RAMS etc.
- Define sub-system functionalities, interfaces and performance requirements, advise on system assurance audits
- Advice the client on procurement strategy, development and review of specifications, bid evaluation and quality assurance
- Manage tenders to ensure selection of contractors and designers
- Ensure technical interfaces with rail systems of:
• Depot civil / structural engineering
• Elevated viaducts and stations
• Underground tunnels and stations
- Ensure the following rail system key interfaces:
• Rail - wheel
• Rolling stock current collection shoe - third rail
• Rolling stock - Signalling (ATO, train lines, layouts)
• Rolling stock - Signalling trackside (communication, EMI/EMC analysis and compliances)
• Track - Signalling (track crossings, impedance and S-bonds)
• Rolling stock - Telecom (onboard systems)
• Signalling - Telecom - AFC
• Signalling - VAC
• Stray current / corrosion control
- Evolve the Operations and Maintenance philosophy
Key Achievements:
- My CV approved by JICA
- Client and JV relationships drastically improved
- All deployment approvals cleared
- Outstanding payment of 8 months cleared
- Subsequent invoices agreed
- Team morale normalised
- High technical involvement created better bonding with client, JV and team

Main Responsibilities:
- Reporting to the Managing Director
- Profit centre management including supervision of projects.
- Improvement of operational results: EBITDA, net income, invoicing and cash
- New contract signatures
- Implementation of ISO processes
- Forecast of revenue, cash, expenses and physical progress
- Review of projects and Actions Taken Report
- Mobilization, staffing forecast, rationalisation of resources and team building
- Ensure productivity, training and development including mobility
- Developing organisation charts
- Staff performance appraisals
- Self development including taking initiative on mentoring
- Attrition control and planning of measures
- Inter-sector coordination, cooperation and organisational initiatives
- Setting up of international design team and training of personnel in Egis France
- Create and define job profiles
- Successful cooperation with Egis group companies
- Communications: Ethics and Values, contribution to in-house magazines
- Help maximise rail based feasibility and downstream studies business in MRTs, mainline, tunnels, structures
- Tenders and risk management and go no-go analysis
- Supporting bid process
Key Achievements:
- Excellent cash situation
- Key contract of audit / assessment of signalling safety won at Bangalore Metro Rail
- Major experience in creating and operating a large profit centre in an international environment
- Turned around the extremely poor and untrusting relationships between Egis Rail, Lyon and Egis India management
- Ensured training and involvement of talented staff in international projects
- Achieved quick setting up of the General Consultancy for Chennai Metro Rail project mainly in terms of timely invoicing, cash collection, staffing, logistics and above all, customer relations
- Ensured that key international staff are of the highest quality to ensure continued customer satisfaction
- Single-handedly created the now online website of company

Main Responsibilities:

- To lead a team of signalling and telecommunication managers and engineers
- To ensure good completion of signalling bid documents for issuance of tender
- To manage interfaces and work closely with consultants including PBI and SYSTRA
- To evaluate bids and appoint global contractors for signalling, telecom and rail control subsystems
- To execute the signalling and telecommunication contracts timely and in close coordination with the contractors
- To ensure correct interface management within the scope of the project

Unfortunately the project was cancelled by the government in March 2009.

Key Achievements:
- Experience working in a large multi-dimensional railway project
- Managed complexities of commercial and contractual aspects of the project
- Budget, forecasting and costing for Circle Line Extension contract
- Main role in IMPACT levels 3 and 4 certification audits
- Imparted training to project managers and work package owners
- Technical agreement and commercial submission for EIs/VOs
- Obtaining permanent licence from IDA Singapore for usage of frequencies
- Documentation management and submissions to customer
- Trained successors for Delhi project financial reporting

Main Responsibilities:
- Revenue/expense budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, reporting
- Track compliance to process regulations and project QCD performance parameters compared against agreed KPIs
- Monitor productivity efficiency through risks identification, QCD analysis, mitigation, monitoring and control
- Manage the team’s compliance to improving profitability, accountability, effective financial control and overall transparency in project management
- Train Project Managers and Work Package Owners on project and commercial management guidelines
- Technical, commercial and financial administration of contract variations including ascertaining impact
- Manage flow of system document submissions, customer monthly reports and rolling programmes
- Create close-out plans to monitor programme activities
- organise telecommunication licensing for usage of frequencies in testing and commissioning
- Manage customer meetings, project reviews, design and commercial reviews
- Monitoring all costs to be charged to customer
- Monitoring suppliers costs and escalation clauses
- provide Contract Management support to the Delhi MRT project team as needed
- provide support in the preparation of the financial Project Book and presentation for Delhi MRT Project
- train one or more members of the Delhi MRT Project team on Financial Communications Management

Consortium Interface Management for Delhi MRT Project:

Key Achievements:

Interfaces with Rolling Stock - ROTEM Korea/Mitsubishi Japan Consortium:

- Helped to meet critical schedules by co-ordinating onboard equipment deliveries with Rotem
- Facilitated progress on key deadlocked issues and failed interface tests
- Ensured future contractual safeguard by recording delays and technical non-compliance by Rotem

Civil and Track Interface - IRCON, SYSTRA, VAE, Cogifer, Kumagai-Skanska-HCC-Itochu Consortium, Dywidag-Samsung-Shimizu Consortium, Skanska, Simplex, Afcons, Gammon:
- Finalised critically outstanding design interfaces and drawings affecting progress of work
- Created time extension events due to delays by civil contractor
- Ensured satisfactory access to technical rooms and trackside to commence installation and testing
- Highlighted unsafe and inadequate site working conditions by DMRC and ensured compliance

Depot Interface - SYSTRA:
- Averted undue scope transfers (at zero cost) from SYSTRA to ALSTOM

Traction Power Interface - ABB/Best & Crompton, IRCON-Cobra-Eliop Spain Consortium:
- Averted an increase in quantities of trackside bonds for interfacing with train detection system

Main Responsibilities:
- effect crucial technical interfaces with Civil, Rolling Stock, Track, Traction and Depot Contractors
- have periodic reviews for compatibility and consistency of design
- ensure safe access to site and rolling stock
- appropriately table outstanding issues of interface safeguarding safety and contractual interests

Key Achievements:
- Key role in project audit in Paris with internal auditors
- Achieved consolidation of Project Book for Delhi SYS1 project
- Imparted training to Financial Controller
- High quality of work in the rating enhancement of Delhi project
- Helped Asia Pacific Project Performance in reporting for other projects
- Ensured compliance with contract through effective program administration
- Helped and strategised in crucial safeguards in situations involving LD/retention
- Successfully engaged and coordinated a leading Indian law firm on blocking issues
- Helped the Project Manager achieve Revenue Opening Dates
- Diverted an attempt to financially impugn us of damage to capital equipment during testing
- Highlighted contract provisions for obtaining taking over certificates
- Devised simple tools to monitor contractual flow

Main Responsibilities:
- Co-ordinate with Europe in compilation and consolidation of project financial reporting
- Support the Project Manager in meeting expectations of Auditors in France
- Establish variances in performances and to provide sufficient awareness to enable management decisions
- Furnish unbiased risk analyses and their mitigation plans
- Closely track project QCD parameters compared against internally agreed KPIs
- Contract and commercial management including schedule monitoring and creating contract summaries
- Reinforce a strong contractual position by driving commercial events to satisfactory completion
- Identify in liaison with in-house legal, bid team, open-ended terms in a contract
- Opportunity Management through contract extensions, price escalations and variations
- Responsible for preparing all potential claims and Variation Orders
- Cost analysis, Revenue & expense administration, budgeting
- Monthly customer reporting
- Tracking and reporting top quality issues
- Tracking contractual deadlines and commitments
- Document and contractual/commercial process management

Consortium Planning for Delhi MRT Project:

Key Achievements:

- Created a resource-loaded Works Programme in Primavera Project Planner and achieved customer approval
- Put in place a strong documentation management system with easy tracking and retrieval abilities
- Ensured challenging advancement of three sections by identifying critical paths and close control of slippages
- Helped eliminate a major bottleneck in train movements between operational mainlines and incomplete depots
- Established contractual mileage through efficiently recording stage-wise delays in design and site access
- Initiated and managed training of key project leaders on Primavera Project Planner
- Helped the design team to finalise the design of UPS systems for signalling equipment power

Main Responsibilities:

- acquire a complete grasp of the QCD requirements and logical sequences of the Delhi MRT project
- create resource-loaded WBS-based works programmes interfaced with rolling stock, traction, civil and track
- demonstrate good planning skills and to acquire expertise in Primavera Project Planner
- control slippage by identifying critical paths, to update variances and to suggest valid remedial plans
To create close-out plans and to monitor project activities of units, partners and suppliers

Contracting Business:
Feb. 99 till July 01
Responsibilities:
- Proposal engineering, tendering, risk analysis and pricing
- Market survey and development of new businesses
- Positioning at other ALSTOM units as their prospective partner
- Liaison with external key accounts for large projects

Achievements:
- Effectively used risk analyses to facilitate “GO- NO GO” decisions for major tenders
- Engineered and drafted technical specifications of the power supply system of signalling and telecom for Delhi Metro Rail project
- Engineered the DMRC power supply system for ALSTOM Transport
- Pre-qualified ALSTOM Systems for various packages of DMRC
- Meaningful involvement from pre-qualification stage for following projects:
- ALSTOM Transport for Delhi Metro
- Lift-irrigation pumping stations with ALSTOM Fluides et Mecaniques
- GAIL Jamnagar-Loni Pipeline SCADA project with ALSTOM Germany
- Triune Projects for BRPL Terminal Automation
- Stup Consultants for IOCL Building Automation

Power Conversion Business:
June 94 - Jan 99
Responsibilities:
- Tendering and proposal engineering
- Positioning at key accounts in power conversion
- Ensuring participation of ALSTOM S.A. in large turnkey industrial projects
- Implementation and administration of ISIS, the company MIS
- Organising and managing trade fairs

Achievements:
- Engineered 128 drive systems for EIL/NALCO
- Was part of proposal engineering & tendering team for TISCO CGL1 & 2
- Proposal engineering and tendering for BOF project of MDH
- Pre-qualified at Howe India and Birla Copper for long conveyor controls
- Positioned Cegelec technology for NALCO Smelter project
- Booked two major orders - one for a test bench, the other in plastics
- Pre-qualified and participated in DHDS/DHDT projects in refineries
- Generated an important enquiry at SAIL, Bhilai Steel Plant
- Successfully implemented and operated ISIS
- Successful participation at Wisitex 96/98 and Metallurgy 96

Drive & Automation Projects Business
July 91-May 94
Responsibilities
- Coordination of large projects
- Obtaining technical and commercial approvals
- Cash realisation and project closure
- Sales of drive and UPS systems
- Technical support to Tata Liebert engineers
Achievements:
- Effectively carried out local project and commercial coordination for:
- SAIL Rourkela Skin Pass Mill project
- TISCO Slab Caster II project
- TISCO Basic Oxygen Furnace project
- Provided critical technical support on UPS to newly formed Tata-Liebert engineers at TISCO
- Realised, in record time, a 13 MINR outstanding in 1990 from SAIL
- Exceeded sales targets for ‘93-’94 and for ‘92-‘93

UPS & Drives Business
Responsibilities:
- Diagnosis and rectification, including card level repairs
- Co-ordination of large projects and obtaining techno-commercial approvals
- Cash realisation and project closure
- Erection, testing and commissioning
- Achieving growth in AMC and spare parts business

Technical Achievements:
- First engineer chosen for UPS training in Emerson (Liebert) technology
- Only engineer chosen for assisting in India's first seismic UPS prototype project for NPC
- Commissioned UPS systems at Rabindra Sadan, Bhowanipur, Jatin Das Park and Rabindra Sarovar Stations of Metro Railway Calcutta
- Identified severe card problems in critical UPS installations countrywide:
o Belgachhia Station of Calcutta Metro
o Computer Reservation Eastern Railway
o Computer Reservation Bombay VT
o ISRO Nagpur
o ONGC Baroda
o SAIL, etc.

Sales Achievements:
- Orchestrated two important single tender orders from public sectors
- Successful marketing for multiple systems package at Coal India Ltd.
- Achieved marked growth in AMC and spare parts business
- Successfully co-ordinated for Hot Strip Mill project of Lloyds Steel, Wardha

Maintenance and calibration of Taylor MOD-30 and other instruments for 8 MW thermal power plant and Paper Mill