In an exclusive interview to ‘Developing India Mirror’, N.B.C.C. (India) Ltd. C.M.D. Anoop Kumar Mittal tells Correspondent Nirendra Dev how immaculate planning, honest endeavours, great teamwork and foresight have made the G.o.I. enterprise emerge as a trailblazer

Q. Let us commence with your forte – the business and growth graph. How are things progressing in the real estate and construction sectors especially with N.B.C.C. (India), formerly known as National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited, in terms of profitability? 

A. Within the next five to ten years, we will be a major player in construction and project management consultancy – which are our real businesses – and redevelopment. In fact, redevelopment ventures are immensely popular even with state governments and city administrations. The refurbishment mode is attracting customers from smart cities. There are factors. The Government is providing a meagre amount and the rest of the capital has to be generated from own resources. Barring one or two municipal corporations such as Delhi and Pune, such money cannot be mustered through taxation. Here N.B.C.C. comes into play. 

Q. So, in the process, you are receiving orders from tier II and tier III cities as well? 

A. Yes. In the context of Tripura, we are redeveloping a 110-acre government colony in Agartala. Similarly we obtain demands from Jaipur and Bhubaneswar. In most of these cities a lot of people are talking about the refurbishment model whose special characteristic is that you do not turn to the state or the Centre for the entire funding – it is a self-revenue generation or self-financing exemplar. 

Q. A word on your organisation’s global footprint. There was talk connected with its expansion in Africa. 

A. First, I would like to mention that the Mauritius Government has given us a couple of undertakings – construction of their Supreme Court building and affordable dwellings. There are numerous other activities in the pipeline. We are in discussions with Kenya and Zambia. Vis-à-vis the overseas footprint, we have created a subsidiary company – N.B.C.C. International – which will take care of all our international businesses. So, we are approaching the M.E.A. also to allot all G.o.I. plan projects and even line-of-credit schemes to us. We have written to the Ministry and the response is positive. 

With regard to Europe, our involvement is not in construction per se. We have tied up with that continent’s companies – one in Poland and the other in Hungary. We have inked agreements with the firms for technology transfer. From the latter country, we are importing technology that can help erect houses within seven to ten days. The Polish firm Bolix manufactures a product that is not exactly paint but if you apply it to a building’s exterior, the internal temperature reduces in summer and goes up in winter. 

Q. What’s ‘Hungarian Product’? 

A. It is a mix of concrete and gypsum. Importantly, this scientific know-how can be applicable in the Indian situation. It is very much feasible and also much more economical than what we are doing. 

Q. You propose to try this version in various sectors? 

A. Yes, such as low-cost and rural housing. 

Q. What do you have to say regarding the argument or criticism often made that villages are ignored; we do not talk of ‘smart’ villages? 

A. That is the advantage of keeping a public sector. The Government can always instruct that sphere’s enterprises to go into the interior and work there. We are exerting ourselves in all north eastern states where corporate houses will hardly go. We are going up to border areas in Bangladesh. 

Q. Coming to Delhi and N.C.R., the Pragati Maidan venture is being spoken about with considerable earnestness. 

A. It is at an extremely-advanced stage and I hope real soon you will see actual construction there. All the approvals are either in place or making headway. 

Q. What is your comment in the context of cooperation from agencies such as D.D.A. and N.D.M.C.? 

A. We have been getting cooperation from all. I do not recall any significant ‘issue’. During the past four-and-a-half years in this chair, I never encountered difficulty with any agency in Delhi. We are doing a fair amount under redevelopment in Delhi where most statutory bodies are not under the Delhi government. A profusion of redevelopment and reconstruction, such as at Pragati Maidan and Kidwai Nagar, is on the verge of completion. These undertakings are not possible unless you utilise new technology. So, all these and the ones – in other cities – worth Rs. 100 cr. we are executing with tech predominantly based on steel structures and concrete thereby reducing construction period by more than 50-60 %. In the process, quality of workmanship is also improving. The Government has appreciated this. In western countries, all buildings are made with this scientific know-how. Moreover, there is no price escalation. As steel prices are down, there is an added advantage. 

In real estate, all our property is in tier II cities such as Ghaziabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Alwar and Surat. We have assets in Kolkata also. Our focus in real estate is in tier II cities. We have similar work in Coimbatore and Meerut. We own land and are developing residential and commercial complexes or townships. 

Q. Any interesting anecdotes vis-à-vis dealing with some states and tough politicians? 

A. We are receiving cooperation across the board. For the first time perhaps any P.S.U. is working in West Bengal on this scale. My experience is fantastic. Similarly in states such as Rajasthan there is a good relation with N.B.C.C. Manik Sarkar, the Tripura Chief Minister has a very fine opinion of us. So that is the kind of relations we have. It is professionalism; depends on how you present your company and on delivery. 

Q. What have you taken up in Kolkata? 

A. We are doing plenty in the West Bengal capital. Recently, we finished a ministerial housing complex and are on the verge of completing another notable building similar to the Hyderabad House. It will be christened Kolkata House. Besides, an enormous convention centre with 2,400 seating capacity would come up and be the largest in the state. I really appreciate the manner in which the West Bengal Chief Minister has assigned tasks to us. We used to be exceedingly strong in that state. However, for 10-15 years there was no work. In the past half a decade, we have done exceptionally well. 

Q. How did you revive things? 

A. Credit to West Bengal’s bureaucracy – they accepted reality. Every politician desires development but people at times get fed up with local agencies so we receive orders. After a long time, our presence has been ensured in Odisha. Not only had the state Government but also central P.S.U.s offered us assignments. So in these two states we revived following an extended period. Unfortunately, our presence in U.P. was almost nil but we are starting conversation with the state regime. 

Q. In terms of projects, what all is coming up in U.P.? 

A. In Varanasi we are doing loads. A little while back, we completed a textile centre. A trade facilitation centre and one museum are materialising. We are laying roads in that city, and then taking up ghat repair. We are revamping old paths, putting up street lights and the most interesting part is that on the walls of dwellings we are placing heritage paintings – an added impression for tourists. 

Q. A word on Bihar. 

A. Since 2009 we do not have any presence there. I met the Chief Minister Mr Nitish Kumar recently, we will start something. We have done a great deal in Jharkhand. Similarly, we are also doing much in states like Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir. 

We have created a museum – three floors underground – within Rashtrapati Bhavan. For the first time major construction has been done in that building after the British period. 

Q. What are the challenges and do you harbour any apprehensions? 

A. There is nothing to fear but challenges exist. With visibility, expectations are increasing by the day. The Centre has spoken about universal housing by 2022. That means we are left with only five years. They remember N.B.C.C. promptly so it is good for the company also. But we have to show results, we have to deliver. There is expectancy of intellectual inputs. Half-a-decade back N.B.C.C. was akin to a contractor – a mere construction company. Now we are placed differently. At times they hope that we would tell them about which model of projects will suit where. If some private developers are not fulfilling on time, they place the work under our supervision. 

Q. Now that you have an additional advisory role, do you have a specialised wing for the purpose? 

A. Our Research and Development wing is being revamped. 

Q. What is the prime focus of study? 

A. One part is how to ensure faster construction. People take two years’ time to construct buildings abroad, in our case such activities often go on for five or even ten years. We have to generate a system where we get things done quickly and it is cost effective. Basically, we have to impart skill to our labourers as 90 % of this force is unversed. Things are not institutionalised. We are running at least ten centres across the country and the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry is asking us to set up many more. There are various segments in construction – such as welding, furniture, electricity – so there can be a training process. They want us to take up the segment in entirety vis-à-vis inculcation. We are open to the idea.