KG Baburajan , recipient of the Pravasi Bharathi award is a trained Civil Engineer and has constructed major projects in Bahrain. He has more than three decades of rich experience in the construction and management fields. He is the only Indian member of the US based International Accreditation services. He will be felicitated by the AsiaOne magazine with the Global Indian of the year award. Excerpts from an exclusive interview with the Pravasai Samman winner
You are the recipient of the prestigious Pravasi Bharathi Award Constituted by the Govt of India. Your comments?
Very happy and proud. I believe that it’s a great recognition by the India govt for supporting India’s causes and concerns in a tangible way , building closer links between India and the overseas Indian community and for the philanthropic pursuits.
How is the situation in Bahrain owing to Covid , Is the economy stable?
Not able to comment on this.
You are a specialised engineer in soil testing and construction. Please explain your expertise in this.
Armed with degrees in Chemistry and in Civil Engineering, and a dream to make it big, I spent one year working in India and crossed the seas in early 1980 to take up an assignment in Saudi Arabia with the joint venture partner of Stanger Inc, Al Hoty Stanger Ltd. I was assigned to work on the Bahrain-Saudi Causeway Project from start to finish, and proceeded to set up a base in Bahrain. The project put me on the high-speed track to expertise, excellence and eminence. Later I became an authority on design of foundations of multi-storey buildings, marine structures, caissons, jetties, roads, bridges, ports, power stations, refineries, smelters and in the field of Geotechnical site investigation, both offshore and onshore. Also rendered my expertise as a specialist in the geotechnical investigation, quality control testing, destructive and non-destructive methods of assessment and evaluation of the condition of civil structures, design of pile foundation and choice of various foundation options to suit the projects by giving importance to the particular site conditions.
You have been supporting a tribal hamlet in Tamil Nadu for years . Please let us know about the experience?
The necessity is being notified by an organization based in Kollam, Kerala and I used to visit the tribal area near foothills of Sahya Parvatham, Rajapalayam, Teni and other areas with cloths and basic commodities quite often.
Can you detail us on the major construction project which you have undertaken in Bahrain?
Over the 4 decades, I have been involved in a variety of projects which have showcased the expertise in soil investigations, be it high rise buildings, dredging and reclamation, offshore installations, causeways, bridge, power plants, Aluminum Smelters, Refineries, etc starting from the bahrain Saudi Cause to the new Bahrain International airport Terminals. Also the iconic buildings like Bahrain World Trade centre, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Khalifa Bin Salman Port , Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Bridge, Aluminium Bahrain, Bapco and many other govt. and private buildings. I am continuing as the technical expert to the Courts in Bahrain on various civil engineering related problems like building collapses, disputes between clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers.
What do you think was the prime reason for the Government of India considering you for the Pravasi Bharathi award?
For the significant contributions to the welfare of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf Countries through dedication and hard work, exhibiting a work ethic that focused on business excellence, dependability, professionalism and corporate social responsibility. In a career spanning more than forty years, I lent my expertise and experience to world renowned projects, enhancing the prestige of India in the gulf countries .
There are reports that you are into opening a major soil testing facility here at Thiruvananthapuram, can you please explain?
The project discussion is going on. Unfortunately more details are not available at this moment
