December 13, 2024 • 45 mins
In this compelling episode , we sit down with Venkata Chunduru, a visionary engineering leader who has been quietly revolutionizing India's transportation and infrastructure landscape for over two decades.
As the Director and Head of India Operations at Arcadis IBI Group, Venkat offers an unprecedented look into the complex world of infrastructure development, innovation, and technological transformation.
Key Highlights:
Perfect for:
#EngineeringIndia, #Infrastructure, #Innovation, #CareerJourney, #TransportationTech, #IndianEngineering, #AITraffic, #InfrastructureAwards, #startupsdilse, #entrepreneur, #india, #bengaluru
As the Director and Head of India Operations at Arcadis IBI Group, Venkat offers an unprecedented look into the complex world of infrastructure development, innovation, and technological transformation.
Key Highlights:
- A 25-year journey through mobility and construction
- Insights from landmark projects like the Worli Bandra Sealink
- The groundbreaking story behind India's first RFID tolling system (FastTag)
- Cutting-edge AI traffic management in Bengaluru
- His deepest professional inspirations
- Career-defining moments
- Personal reading recommendations
- Wisdom for emerging professionals
Perfect for:
- Engineering enthusiasts
- Infrastructure professionals
- Startup founders
- Anyone curious about technological innovation in India
#EngineeringIndia, #Infrastructure, #Innovation, #CareerJourney, #TransportationTech, #IndianEngineering, #AITraffic, #InfrastructureAwards, #startupsdilse, #entrepreneur, #india, #bengaluru
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Startup still same podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Thank you for tuning in, Give us a paper like
some surcrive on YouTube or LinkedIn and be sure to
give us your feedback.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hope you enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello everyone, this is Anthony Prakash. Welcome to another new
episode of Startups. They'll say, thanks for joining us on
this brand new episode. I'm privileged today to have Venka
Chindaru from the arcadis Ibi group. VENKTT and I have
known each other for the last twelve to almost fourteen months.
I would say I met him last year in Bangalore
(00:34):
and he and I have talked about several things which
we'll talk about on this podcast. And he keeps doing
a lot of fun stuff in the world of mobility
transportation and alongside that a lot of innovation in that space.
So Venkat, first of all, welcome to the show. Thanks
for joining us at six am India time from Bangalore.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Thanks thanks, Anthony.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
And then I'm really and also very excited to be
part of your podcasts and then to go journey along
with you and release some of the moments that we
had together in Bangalore and then probably discuss some of
the interesting aspects that you.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Would like to hear from me.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, perfect, thanks Mencot. So first of all, I mean,
you know, in coming from the technology background myself, I
don't run into a lot of people who are involved
in say what we do on a daily basis, you know,
drive on the street, figure out, look at transportation signals,
(01:40):
traffic lights and things like that. And when I saw
your session the first time, I mean I was blown
away by the amount of technology that actually goes into that,
the amount of work that goes into that. Then we
also heard from the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Bangalore
ask you how much technology they utilize. I mean, and
in a lot of ways in tandem working with you guys.
(02:03):
So maybe when I start with your college career, right,
I mean, I see that you did civil engineering in
your bachelor's program, but you shifted from civil engineering and
did transportation systems as your masters, I mean, out of
everything that is out there, what made you transportation engineer?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Yeah, when we studied civil engineering in our graduation, I
think transportation was also part of so but what excited
me was when I actually went to i T Bombay
for after my m tech Gate qualification for an interview,
(02:46):
and then I happened to meet and who happened to
be my guide and my mentor and the philosopher subsequently,
and the work that he's doing and and the projects
that they're doing had impressed me a lot and excited
me a lot as a student at that stage. And
(03:07):
then I've been offered a special m tech under research program,
so and then that that's one of the best things
that actually happened, I believe at that time.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
And he actually took me through.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
The exciting things that they're doing in terms of in
the city of Mumbai, how they are actually trying to
work on large infra projects, how they're doing modeling, and
that usually excites any student at that time. And in fact,
I went to id Bombay to get an mp tech
into structural engineering, which was a fascination.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
At that point in time.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
But when I heard and then I'm completely strayed away
by my professor and then that's how it all happened,
and I never looked back. I think that decision was
the decisions I feel I took it at any point
in time in my.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Life that is perfect and I still remember the days.
You know, I actually come from a mechanical engineering background, myself,
but I've done nothing related to mechanical engineering in my career.
The only computer science lab we used to have was AutoCAD, right,
and we used to I mean, and of course we
used to have all those drawing exams with the big
(04:30):
scale and things like that, and we did have structural
engineering as well. You're bringing back fond memories of my
college career as well. But at the same time, you know,
when you look back at your career from where you
started to where you are right now, I mean, technology
has made massive strides from you know, what you potentially
(04:53):
thought could be solved and then of course the problems
becoming much bigger and bigger. Can you kind of give
us a rundown on what you did after that to
what you're doing right now in in arcades?
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
So when I started with my MP program in I T. Bombay,
one of the parallel things that I was expected to
do was also to contribute to the research and the
projects that the professor is undertaking as part of the
institutional work. So I happened to work on some of
(05:33):
those projects such as Vali Badrasi Link feasibility studies and
Western Freeway projects. There were conventional traffic and modeling studies
forecasting the travel demand and u and which is which
become the inputs for establishing the feasibility.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Of large transport infrastructure projects.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
And that has laid the whole foundation for me in
terms of the conventional travel demand modeling and traffic studies.
But one of the important things that actually sowed the
seed at that point in time was the technology side
of the story, where we had one of the best
(06:17):
computer labs in the institute after Computer science Engineering, and
all my friends used to envy us looking at that lab,
and then we had all the privileges of actually software
hardware to play around with, and that has also builtn
(06:38):
a curiosity angle in terms of how we can actually
leverage the tech.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
From that point of view.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
So then subsequently, after my m tech at id Bombay,
then I moved on to Tata Consultancy Services, where again
I was actually part of the management consulting team and
not the coding team. Because that I was very clear
one of the carrier transition points. Also, what my professor
advised me was that not to get into software, but.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
To actually stick to the core and stay through.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And even when I was actually joining TCS, I was
actually part of the management consulting team which was involved
with the transportation projects at that point in time. But
however those projects were also part of the conventional traffic
studies and also part of some of those.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Technology studies as well. Yeah, so while.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
I was actually doing the masters, one of the things
that also happened was I need to work on parallely
on a lot of these projects conventional while they are
actually mostly conventional traffic modeling and traffic podcasting kind of projects.
I also actually had the opportunity to work in tech
(08:05):
at that point itself because we actually had one of
the best computer labs in the institute I TI Bombay
apart from after only after computer science lab and then
even my friends you stay and meet a lot. So
that's where I got a little exposure to technology, which
also always kept me looped in with technology. And while
(08:31):
while I was actually doing my masters, I also happened
to work in some of the flagship projects like on
Liban RASI Link and Freeway Western Freeway feasibility studies. Post
my masters, one of the important things also decision points
that happened was when most of my almost all my
(08:53):
colleagues were actually getting into software that was the boom
at that point in time. So my professor actually called
my and and said, like, you are not going to
be you need to stay through. And then I and
he promised me and I showed me that you will
never ripent.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
On these decisions.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
And so that's one of the good things that actually happened.
And that one of the other things I also saw
in my career in my life was also the kind
of good mentors who had been always guiding me at
right point in time and helping me take those right
decisions and sway through some of the challenging times in
(09:33):
my life. And once that I actually joined TCS. Though
it was it is known for it tech, but in
those days they also used to have one specific team
called management Consulting Team. They used to work on consulting
and advisory studies. So and I will we were focusing
more on transportation. And then for almost like three three
(09:57):
and half years I was actually with TCS where I
worked on both conventional travel demand modeling and other studies.
And one of the the Mumbai Metro project that we
are seeing today was we were the ones who actually
did the enter by Metro master plan. We did total
travel demand modeling for the city and then we created
(10:20):
that master plan and I'm glad to see those projects
are all now coming to reality. And then at TCS,
I was also part of some of those tech projects.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
In those days, it used to be called the information technology.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
We studies I STP studies they used to call, and
we used to be part of those which are associated
with digital. With those days it is actually called technology
transit transformation and then today's we call it as a
digital to work with Peterwd's government bodies and World Bank projects,
(11:03):
so where we used to actually advise them on how
the technology transition can which all can be automated, what
are all the processes that can be automated. So we
used to work on both business process engineering and then
the automation side of the story also And one of
the last projects that I actually worked with them was
also on the Mundraport automation project, so where I was
(11:29):
part of the team which was.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Core Domains as a domain specialist.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
We used to be part of the project where we
created that Technology transformssion plan and subsequently at that time
CMS was actually acquired by TCS and then TCS and
that was the first joint project of.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
CMC and TCS together.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
So that's how we we had our hands and legs
into technology associated with transportation. So what seats that the
IT Bombay has laid in terms of not just the
conventional transportation projects, but they also gave us the training
(12:12):
on systems side of the story as well, So that
always kept us in the chase of using technology to
actually see how we can make the systems better from
the way as to how they can actually show the outcomes.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Got it, got it?
Speaker 1 (12:34):
And then I actually from there I moved on to
Wilba Smith again and I'm a US based MNC where
I was actually involved in traffic and transportation studies.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
We did a lot of the Metro.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I was actually involved in some of those Middle East
projects that they were actually doing for creating the transport plans.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
And then the big change came in when I actually.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Moved to Bangalore on behalf for joining Gilversmith, but as
part of one of our studies, I actually got into
bound into GMR where we were making a presentation to
them on one of their investment prospective investments bids on
highway project. And then they liked us so much and
(13:22):
then especially with me. They actually developed a good rappo
and then they said like, why don't you join it
to be part of the team that we are actually
building And.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
That actually made a big change into career transition.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
That actually happened, and of course GMR I never looked
back again for ten years. How the time passed and
then how we got engaged with the technology and the
operations and traffic studies and all that. And GMA gave
me a big, good platform to explore my passion in
(14:04):
terms of what are the seats that were sown while
I While I studied a lot of its intelligent transport
systems in I T and then subsequently the kind of
base work that we did in TCS, so all that
we were actually able to curate those for infra projects
(14:26):
in GMR, and I grew a lot both.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Professionally and as well as career wise.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
I had I had seen a very steep growth in
GMR and also was able to build a lot of.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Relationships.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
We made a lot of friends, we made a lot
of partnerships and into diverse areas. I think it's not
just only about infra, and actually I remember we were
also exploring auxiliary revenue models for highways, and then we
actually had collaboration with HMS Hosts, which actually runs the
chain of hotels and restaurants and travel accessories across transport
(15:12):
by airports or roads, and those were wonderful times. And
we all were also looking with collaborations with international global
companies and then we get an opportunity to travel. That
was one of the best things that GMR gave us
as a platform to go explore, learn and then come
(15:33):
back and see how we contribute back into the organization
and the projects.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
So I think that was that was with GMR.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
And then subsequently GMR was actually moving on its operations
from Lockstock Barrel from Bangalore to Delhi, and that's when
again the question mark came in because I was I
wasn't in a more to move away from Bangalore.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So with my son just got in into got into schooling.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
And and we never wanted to move to Delhi. So
I tried exploring running between the cities, but it was
a bit challenging.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
So that's when I said, like, I want to move on.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
So though it was a very one of the very
very difficult and challenging decisions that I had to take, again,
I went back to my mentors and then took their
advice and then accordingly I moved on. And then that's
when actually I didn't have even a one day break.
(16:39):
I actually immediately joined a startup in Bangalore called Introwate
and that's again focused on technology solutions for especially the
transportation related problems. And there while I worked on by
already an existing known domain of management systems and traffic
(17:01):
management systems. One of the interesting things that we also
designed a solution was to actually for the continent tracking
project with NEC who were actually tied up with the
National now we call it as a National Industrial Corridor
Development Corporation, so for how.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
To improve the ease of doing business right.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So and this continent tracking container lock up was actually
causing a big bottleneck for improving the efficiencies in the system.
So that problem statement has actually was put thrown at
us as to how we can actually design a system
which can track. And that's when we designed an r
fight based container tracking system. And now I'm very happy
(17:47):
the isihlight that we actually carried out set up and
made it a success is now going places with all
the ports connected and the logistic databank is actually being
built up and it's going very well.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
So I think that's posted that with infrared.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Then I also subsequently got into IBI, so again there's
a story behind why I had to come to IBI.
So me and Deepak were studying together in it Bombay.
Deepak was part of bachelor's program and then I was
(18:24):
actually studying my M tech and taking care of computer labs,
so we bumped into each other more often with his
guide being common and trying to work on computer lab
he was. He came back to India during two thousand
and six and he was trying to set up the
shop for IBA in India and then that's when we
(18:46):
again bumped each other at my professor's place.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
And then he said like what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And then GMR was also looking for toll traffic management
solutions for their highways and then I said, why don't
we work together?
Speaker 3 (19:01):
So I think that's how we started.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
And fortunately they came on board through a bidding process
and that's how the collaboration with IBA started and that
was one of the successful projects that actually happened in
the industry. So one of the flagship projects, I should
say in terms of toll and traffic management systems. Along
gm R highways and when deeper came to know that
(19:24):
I moved on from GMR and then didn't even tell them,
so they were also a little taken awack and said
like we wanted you to be on our side rather
than going around with other things. But then I have
already committed here. So that's when the infrawd. When also
(19:44):
after these projects, there was some sort of a shakeup
happening in because being a startup is a startup, shake
ups keep happening. So there was change of ownership that
was actually happening, and then I said like, okay, no,
I think it's not something.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
For so then I moved on to IBI. So and it's.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Eight year, eight year completed, nine year running for me
again in ib I and two years back after this
took over, and then this is where we are with
all the beautiful projects that we're into and that that's
where yeah, today, I think this is the timeline.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Incredible. Ven I mean, first of all, I mean i'm
asked I would say you're lucky. I mean partly you've
created your luck because you are pursuing your passion right
from you know, the the school days, if you will,
right from I t too right now, you know you
could have fallen preyed, like you said yourself to the
(20:44):
software boom or you know why do k which was there?
And you know it didn't matter in India, right, what mechanical,
what engineer didn't matter. You always became a software engineer, right,
So good to see that you didn't fall prey to that.
See you on that. And then I mean, you know
a lot of impact that you've created along the way,
(21:06):
which we can probably talk about. So the part I
want to ask you next, Venkatis. I mean, obviously this
is a space where you know, twenty years ago you
don't see the type of I mean much like any
other industry perhaps, but I mean at what scale do
you think you know things have changed or innovation has
(21:27):
come through in your world compared to say the rest
of the world, right, I mean when you look at
software or a software engineer if you will, I mean,
you know, every other month or something, there's a new
platform coming. I mean you know off laid It is
AI and things like that. But if you just look
at it through your lens, you know you said you
were working on some of the projects in Mumbai even
(21:49):
when you started out of college too. Right now, I mean,
how do you see innovation or the disruption happening in
your world? And then maybe we can pivot to see
how the technology overlap is happening as well.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
See, I think the transportation we always India always had
that infrastructure deficit, and that's one of the things that
was pulling our economy from boom booming. Right But in
the late nineties, when the infrastructure boom started and the
(22:29):
focus on infrastructure development and investments started coming in, I
think the four more focus in this particular sector was
most on building the basic blocks of actually concrete or
I should say brick and motor activity because there was
huge deficit, so the focus was more on building that
(22:51):
because only when you actually have an infrastructure, that's when
equality infrastructure, that's when you can actually talk of other things.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's more like the backbone of the country.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
The backbone was actually was required, so that was actually
being done. A lot of the innovation was actually happening,
I don't say technology, but innovation was happening on material use,
what type of material that we should actually be using,
and what top of techniques should be used in making
it more faster and making it more improving the quality
(23:22):
of the infrastructure and.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Those kinds of things.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
So the innovation was more focused on fast tracking the
work and making sure the quality is actually is better,
or in terms of how we actually operate that infrastructure
and maintain that infrastructure focused subsequently, So the.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Focus was more on those things.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
But late two thousands, I think that's when the importance
of technology then actually started with the because always we
actually had the limitation of the space, so we couldn't
have actually grown the infrastructure at a pace at which
(24:06):
the vehicle ownerships were actually growing or the transportation volumes
were actually growing, so whether it's people or the goods
that we're actually talking about, So that's when the emphasis
actually came on, how do we manage the infrastructure in
a much more efficient way to make sure that it
(24:26):
would cater to the growing needs of the society or
the economy as a whole. So that's when slowly the
technology started penetrating into it. But I can always say
that that has been a slow adoption in this particular industry,
whether we actually call it as a toll or traffic management,
(24:48):
or whether signaling systems. Even today you can actually see
a city like Bangalore today actually out of its five
hundred plus junctions, we are only talking of an adaptive
solution traffic management. So in just about a year back
we started deploying right. Yeah, So the adoption of technology
has actually been very very slow and uh and uh
(25:13):
uh primarily driven by the funding constraints that and and
the and the I should actually say the education or
understanding of the bureaucracy uh side of the story. So
there like for example Stranache and he understands technology and
(25:36):
its importance and then he's driving it saying that yes,
we need to drive you capitalize the potential of technology
while we continue to do what we're doing. Right, So
that particular aspect was also missing. And with with the
new age bureaucrats coming in, that passion for using technology
is also growing. And then once the best part about
(25:58):
India is that once it only takes a time for
it to adopted. Once they adopted, the scale of the
speed of adoption is like a yeah, yes.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It's like autistics.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So that's how we've actually seen even whether we talk
about fast tag RFDI bays, fast tag tolling and I
remember in GMR we were the first to actually use
RFID to solve one of our burning problems of buses
not being paid. So we need to track how many
buses were going through which were not paying. So we said,
(26:35):
like we will use RFIs the technology for tracking, and
then that becomes a basis for tolling.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
We never imagine. And then that adoption of RAFID was
was a game changer.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
With Nonlekani Committee recommendations and then adoption of that and
then with the push that the government gave in the
recent past were it actually transitioned from fifteen percent penetration
to a ninety eight percent penetration. It's beautiful and it's amazing.
And technology adoption in India has been at a very
(27:09):
fast pace. So that's how it has actually happened. In
the transportation, the ITS we actually call it the Intelligent
Transport systems for the technology side of the whole story
of transportation. The adopt the growth of ITS has actually
been in the last one decade, I should say it
has actually grown substantially and with the growth of the industry,
(27:32):
especially the hardware side, whether it call it the cameras
or scanners or radars or R readers. So although adoption
has actually started growing up and every department is actually
thinking of how they can actually capitalize or how they
can actually adopt technology to improve their operational efficiencies.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
It thank you for that. I mean, one of the
points you mentioned was going to be my next pivot.
So you mentioned bureaucracy. Obviously that that comes in because
I mean, in your world, you I mean, you cannot
avoid the fact that you have to work with the
public sector, the government, and it's a massive collaboration for
(28:15):
everything to come to light. Right, So how would you
say that has kind of evolved over the years. I mean,
obviously to your point, you know, in the late nineteen
nineties and in the last ten years, I mean, the
infrastructure boom. You can visibly see it, right, whether it's
the airports or as they call it, the whole Golden
Quadilateral in terms of you know, all the highways and
(28:38):
the more highways coming up, or the different city metros
that are coming up and things like that. So there
needs to be a really good balance between collaborating with
the government officials, right, and your private sector to make
all these projects to come to life. I mean, so
(28:59):
any thought, son, you know how that has kind of
gotten better over the years, making your life simple. Any
any taught viewpoints from your side banker.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, So again I should say I've been a bit
lucky to having worked with some of the best bureaucrats
in the country. While while my I started my career
with tel Traffic Comprehensive Traffic Transportation Study, and then the
(29:30):
bureaucrats whom I worked with at that point in time
were so visionary and at that point and time they
were talking of how always aligning, not focusing more on
technology alone, but then focusing on how to solve the
problem at large, how to actually make transportation and accessible
to people, and how to leverage transportation to to make
(29:55):
it the economic engine work right. So that was the
vision that that that's the kind of vision that they
actually had in those days, right. And then slowly when
even when I actually worked with say the r fighting
the kind of projects that we I talked about and
whether in TCAs or whether infrawate.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Or in GMR.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
So the best part was while they're understanding on technology
or deep depth was actually not much, but then they
all felt the need for the technology to be there,
to actually be leveraged to fast track or to make
sure the problem solving happens in a better way, right
(30:40):
and and the most innovative way. So I think while
while I say this, I also have encountered a couple
of bureaucrats who who's lack of understanding or knowledge of technology,
they were actually trying to shy away and then keep
the technology away from there.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
They pushed back.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Whenever you go go and then try to discuss some
technology intervention which can actually make things better, they say no, no, no, no, please,
don't disturb the way is working, and then you continue
to do what you're doing. Yeah, so I had, well,
you have both sides, but I can always say that
(31:22):
the ones who are actually more forthcoming and adopting technology
is almost like on a majority today. So and that's
why where you can actually see this kind of a
boom and India becoming a digital force as well in
the globe. So so I think that that's where the
(31:43):
whole story is.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Yeah. So, I mean, again, based on what you're saying,
I think I feel like it's in a much better
place than what it was, you know, maybe a decade
ago or a couple of decades ago. And that's a
testament to the progress that's been made as well. Right,
So being in Bangal or a venkt, I mean you obviously,
I mean Bangler calls itself the silicon value of India
(32:06):
or the Silicon value of the East. I mean with
the number of startups, a number of people moving there,
you know, all the VC funds there and things like
that I've seen in the press as well. I mean,
you know, in your current role in arcadis Ibi, you
do partner with startups, right, I mean you can obviously
innovate internally in your role, but at the same time,
(32:26):
I mean you know, in a startup world, I mean
you know, those ideas move fast, and there is a
plenty of opportunity for you to collaborate with some of
those best to breed solutions as well. Right, So how
do you go about picking and choosing what you build
internally within your team and these are the opportunities for
you to collaborate with a startup or collaborate with another partner,
(32:51):
how do you make those decisions?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Like?
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Yeah, see, one of the one of the fundamental principles
that you all believed in and was always to actually
make sure that we are collaborating both with our customers
and also with with our partners. And OEMs and startups,
so we very well know that not everything can be
(33:16):
done by ourselves, even if we would want to develop
that particular competency. Also, we always have that decision making
is in terms of how efficient it is for us
to and whether to do it internally or whether we
actually collaborate with someone else.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Right, So, our our.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Main strength is our domain expertise and our ability to
actually curate solution, right. So that's that's our strengths as
the team, whether it's haartred Is or whether it in
tc IS or wherever we were actually working our our
that that's the core strength that we used to look
at and especially now when we're working as archad is
(33:57):
when we're trying to build this solution of AST or
whether that traffic management solution adaptive signaling system, or whether
we are working in other mining ORISA mining corporation projects
that we that we delivered our traffic management on highways
that we are actually working on everywhere. I think our
strength is actually is curating a solution to solve the problem,
(34:20):
right and what ingredients make that solution work. We are
not we want to actually collaborate with the external world,
and that's where we actually have looked at as the
best thing that could actually happen is if the best
comes in yeah, right, and then when you stitch this
thing together, and and if you're able to focus more
(34:44):
on problem solving, on our own core strength, because we
believe that when it's not my strength, I.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Don't need to.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Start building that and I can liberate on someone else's strength.
And who's that's the core of someone else? Right, So
keep you keep stick to your core, and then bring
the core of others, uh to build the solution and
then make it happen.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
I think that's perfect well said, Yeah, well said. And
that's a great approach. I mean, and I will stand
the test of time as well. Right, So that's awesome.
So everybody, uh, you know these days uses some bit
of AI, or at least trying to use some bit
of AI. How has AI impacted your world? In the world,
(35:32):
if say, transportation systems or everything else the plateau of
things that arkadis Ibi does.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
Today, No doubt, I think a A has has a
great potential. I think it's it's one of the biggest
disruptions that could actually be as our generation could have
actually seen. And I see transportation getting benefited with AI
a lot. But the point here is I think what
(36:02):
I'm seeing and is about the more of an abuse
of the word AI then and better use So I
actually feel like I think it's important.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
That we have.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Use cases built and developed, and a lot of startups
are actually coming in in this space as well, and
we should we should actually be able to leverage those
startups and collaborations with Academy. I think that's one of
the important things that we need to look at when
we're actually focusing on these AI and deep tech collaborations.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
So, coming to your point.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Of impact of AI, I see AI playing a major
role in every uh, every transportation segment, and not only
in the transportation set, but also in every stage of.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
The life cycle of the transportation project.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Right whether it's actually playing a big role in design,
it's playing a big role in development, or in terms
of construction stage, it's going to play a big role
in operations.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
And maintenance as well.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Yeah, So at all the phases, I actually see AI
having a big role to play. And apart from that,
even the digital twin I would like to bring that
also into play that that also is going to be
one of the big things that that's going to disrupt
the industry.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
You can simulate almost anything and everything, and yeah, yeah, perfect.
So record, we've come to a section which we're going
to call the they'll say question, and I'm going to
ask you five questions and you can give a super
short answer and we can move on to the next question.
If you'd like to elaborate, feel free. So you already,
I mean, I think I know the answer to the
(37:59):
first question. I'm going to ask you who's your role
model or your inspiration. I think you're going to say
somebody from your I T days, But if it's not,
that's okay. But any any inspiration you have in your
career venkor Yeah, I think one of.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
The great inspirations that I actually had. Of course processing
there has always been my mentor and he has guided
me although and he continues to guide me.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
So from a professional point of view, I actually take.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Mister Streeter and as as a role model in terms
of as a karma yogi what what we called him,
and the kind of contributions that he has become a
metro man having a single minded focus of actually solving
the problem in terms of and making sure building an
institution which actually lasts longer and beyond beyond an individual
(38:52):
and beyond a time. Right, So I think that's where
I admire him. And he's professionally, he's my role model.
I always looked upon to his life to draw some
lessons for myself.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
That is great. So the next one is any favorite
book or a documentary that you have that you keep
going back to for inspiration.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
I again here, I have two points. I always been.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
Reading from my childhood days right from my and then
more than I don't see it as a religious book,
but as a as a text which actually has always
inspired me every time I read something, and then it
actually contextualizes and gives me solution. While I see this
as a as a book that I can actually go
(39:53):
back all the times on a contemporary And I happened
to read the book called The Professional based Brother Bakshi
uh And and I really admire that book and I
enjoy that book. And that's one book that i've actually
i'm not and I give that to as many of them,
(40:16):
both to my customers and to my team members all
the times. And that's been one of the wonderful books
that I've read and have candidly expressed a lot of
those dilemmas that a professional would actually come across in
his or her careers and then provide some best guidance.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
So thank you. I've not read that book myself, so
I will I will look.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Probably I would give.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Let me see next. So on the same lines as
the first two. I mean, what's what's the I mean say,
I would say you obviously get advice, But I mean
if somebody day one in their careers or year one
in their careers, creditor, respective of which career they are in,
(41:07):
what is one piece of advice you would give them.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
I think one of the things that I keep I
keep telling the youth and young whenever I go to
colleges and other places.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
Is actually to be staying socially relevant.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
So in whichever the tech, whichever the domain that you are,
I think what is important is to actually stay socially
and relevant because that's what is going to stay forever.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
I think, whether you are.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Solving a community problem, or a transportation problem, or a
climate problem or whatsoever, I think, as long as you
are actually solving and staying relevant socially and trying to
solve the problem of a community. So that's where I
think we will have a long way to go and
(41:53):
we will be sustainable for a longer period of time,
and that would actually help you to build a career
for oneself.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
I think that advice that I would like.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
To keep, yeah, beautifully said. And in your career, I mean,
you've obviously achieved a lot of things already. There's a
one many more great things ahead if you want. But
I mean, what's if you were to point out one
thing that you're super proud of in your career, any
anything that comes to mind.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
So as as I told you so one of the
I think there are there are many to that point,
and I've always released a lot of these good things
that we were actually doing, uh primarily when when we
actually started exploring RFID technology per safe for solving the
(42:48):
bush tolling problem. So that actually I felt one of
the biggest breakthroughs that we actually had to actually how
to leverage technology. And same way, I think I would
also want to add the current Astrum project that we
(43:08):
were actually delivering to Bangalo Traffic Police, actionable intelligence for
sustainable traffic management. I think that is one of the
things that I feel I will be very if you
ask me this question.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
You're basically projecting it for the future.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
Yes, it is one of the breakthroughs that that that
I would be.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Yeah, I could see that myself too, because I mean
that is such a complex project. I mean, you know
the amount of scaling.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Problem like a traffic condition problem in a city like Bangalow.
I always tell that I don't think well be able
to solve with a click or with but it's only
through a strong collaboration and everybody's involvement and engagement is
what is very important. And that's one of the reasons
(44:00):
why we are also trying to see how to engage
community into this initiative and want to make this from
a We have transitioned that slowly from a project to
a program. Now from program to a mission. So that's
how we are actually looking as should become a mission.
Uh leave a part of the name whatever that name
(44:21):
is the thing a strategic weapon that we were trying
to create for us to solve the problem in the
hands of empowering the traffic police.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
So so thanks thanks Francott. I mean I must say
every time I come to Bangalore and stop it as
a traffic signal and I look at the signal and
wait there. I always think it's you, you know, thinking that.
I mean, you're doing something to play a big role
via arcade IS and work with the Bangloor Traffic Police
to complex all those solved problems with AI and all
(44:52):
the new technology that you're bringing in. So I learned
a ton today, Venkott. I mean, I'm going to look
up the book and your inspiration and all of that.
It's it's a great learning for me to learn more
about you and your journey. So thanks so much for
taking the time today, Vankored. I mean, I'm sure we'll
meet up in person soon, but for my audience here,
(45:12):
thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Thanks a lot, Anthony. And then it was pleasure talking
to you. I think you've made me to time travel
back and having some pleasant memories from my life. So
thanks for that time. And then I hope you've got
what you wanted from the Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:33):
Absolutely, I mean, you know, this is this is what
this podcast is all about, you know, learning from people
like you and uh, you know, try to replicate some
of your learning. So thanks so much, Ncer, take care,
Thank you, thank you so much.
This is the Startup still same podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Thank you for tuning in, Give us a paper like
some surcrive on YouTube or LinkedIn and be sure to
give us your feedback.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hope you enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello everyone, this is Anthony Prakash. Welcome to another new
episode of Startups. They'll say, thanks for joining us on
this brand new episode. I'm privileged today to have Venka
Chindaru from the arcadis Ibi group. VENKTT and I have
known each other for the last twelve to almost fourteen months.
I would say I met him last year in Bangalore
(00:34):
and he and I have talked about several things which
we'll talk about on this podcast. And he keeps doing
a lot of fun stuff in the world of mobility
transportation and alongside that a lot of innovation in that space.
So Venkat, first of all, welcome to the show. Thanks
for joining us at six am India time from Bangalore.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Thanks thanks, Anthony.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
And then I'm really and also very excited to be
part of your podcasts and then to go journey along
with you and release some of the moments that we
had together in Bangalore and then probably discuss some of
the interesting aspects that you.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Would like to hear from me.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, perfect, thanks Mencot. So first of all, I mean,
you know, in coming from the technology background myself, I
don't run into a lot of people who are involved
in say what we do on a daily basis, you know,
drive on the street, figure out, look at transportation signals,
(01:40):
traffic lights and things like that. And when I saw
your session the first time, I mean I was blown
away by the amount of technology that actually goes into that,
the amount of work that goes into that. Then we
also heard from the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Bangalore
ask you how much technology they utilize. I mean, and
in a lot of ways in tandem working with you guys.
(02:03):
So maybe when I start with your college career, right,
I mean, I see that you did civil engineering in
your bachelor's program, but you shifted from civil engineering and
did transportation systems as your masters, I mean, out of
everything that is out there, what made you transportation engineer?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Yeah, when we studied civil engineering in our graduation, I
think transportation was also part of so but what excited
me was when I actually went to i T Bombay
for after my m tech Gate qualification for an interview,
(02:46):
and then I happened to meet and who happened to
be my guide and my mentor and the philosopher subsequently,
and the work that he's doing and and the projects
that they're doing had impressed me a lot and excited
me a lot as a student at that stage. And
(03:07):
then I've been offered a special m tech under research program,
so and then that that's one of the best things
that actually happened, I believe at that time.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
And he actually took me through.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
The exciting things that they're doing in terms of in
the city of Mumbai, how they are actually trying to
work on large infra projects, how they're doing modeling, and
that usually excites any student at that time. And in fact,
I went to id Bombay to get an mp tech
into structural engineering, which was a fascination.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
At that point in time.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
But when I heard and then I'm completely strayed away
by my professor and then that's how it all happened,
and I never looked back. I think that decision was
the decisions I feel I took it at any point
in time in my.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Life that is perfect and I still remember the days.
You know, I actually come from a mechanical engineering background, myself,
but I've done nothing related to mechanical engineering in my career.
The only computer science lab we used to have was AutoCAD, right,
and we used to I mean, and of course we
used to have all those drawing exams with the big
(04:30):
scale and things like that, and we did have structural
engineering as well. You're bringing back fond memories of my
college career as well. But at the same time, you know,
when you look back at your career from where you
started to where you are right now, I mean, technology
has made massive strides from you know, what you potentially
(04:53):
thought could be solved and then of course the problems
becoming much bigger and bigger. Can you kind of give
us a rundown on what you did after that to
what you're doing right now in in arcades?
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
So when I started with my MP program in I T. Bombay,
one of the parallel things that I was expected to
do was also to contribute to the research and the
projects that the professor is undertaking as part of the
institutional work. So I happened to work on some of
(05:33):
those projects such as Vali Badrasi Link feasibility studies and
Western Freeway projects. There were conventional traffic and modeling studies
forecasting the travel demand and u and which is which
become the inputs for establishing the feasibility.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Of large transport infrastructure projects.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
And that has laid the whole foundation for me in
terms of the conventional travel demand modeling and traffic studies.
But one of the important things that actually sowed the
seed at that point in time was the technology side
of the story, where we had one of the best
(06:17):
computer labs in the institute after Computer science Engineering, and
all my friends used to envy us looking at that lab,
and then we had all the privileges of actually software
hardware to play around with, and that has also builtn
(06:38):
a curiosity angle in terms of how we can actually
leverage the tech.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
From that point of view.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
So then subsequently, after my m tech at id Bombay,
then I moved on to Tata Consultancy Services, where again
I was actually part of the management consulting team and
not the coding team. Because that I was very clear
one of the carrier transition points. Also, what my professor
advised me was that not to get into software, but.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
To actually stick to the core and stay through.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And even when I was actually joining TCS, I was
actually part of the management consulting team which was involved
with the transportation projects at that point in time. But
however those projects were also part of the conventional traffic
studies and also part of some of those.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Technology studies as well. Yeah, so while.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
I was actually doing the masters, one of the things
that also happened was I need to work on parallely
on a lot of these projects conventional while they are
actually mostly conventional traffic modeling and traffic podcasting kind of projects.
I also actually had the opportunity to work in tech
(08:05):
at that point itself because we actually had one of
the best computer labs in the institute I TI Bombay
apart from after only after computer science lab and then
even my friends you stay and meet a lot. So
that's where I got a little exposure to technology, which
also always kept me looped in with technology. And while
(08:31):
while I was actually doing my masters, I also happened
to work in some of the flagship projects like on
Liban RASI Link and Freeway Western Freeway feasibility studies. Post
my masters, one of the important things also decision points
that happened was when most of my almost all my
(08:53):
colleagues were actually getting into software that was the boom
at that point in time. So my professor actually called
my and and said, like, you are not going to
be you need to stay through. And then I and
he promised me and I showed me that you will
never ripent.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
On these decisions.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
And so that's one of the good things that actually happened.
And that one of the other things I also saw
in my career in my life was also the kind
of good mentors who had been always guiding me at
right point in time and helping me take those right
decisions and sway through some of the challenging times in
(09:33):
my life. And once that I actually joined TCS. Though
it was it is known for it tech, but in
those days they also used to have one specific team
called management Consulting Team. They used to work on consulting
and advisory studies. So and I will we were focusing
more on transportation. And then for almost like three three
(09:57):
and half years I was actually with TCS where I
worked on both conventional travel demand modeling and other studies.
And one of the the Mumbai Metro project that we
are seeing today was we were the ones who actually
did the enter by Metro master plan. We did total
travel demand modeling for the city and then we created
(10:20):
that master plan and I'm glad to see those projects
are all now coming to reality. And then at TCS,
I was also part of some of those tech projects.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
In those days, it used to be called the information technology.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
We studies I STP studies they used to call, and
we used to be part of those which are associated
with digital. With those days it is actually called technology
transit transformation and then today's we call it as a
digital to work with Peterwd's government bodies and World Bank projects,
(11:03):
so where we used to actually advise them on how
the technology transition can which all can be automated, what
are all the processes that can be automated. So we
used to work on both business process engineering and then
the automation side of the story also And one of
the last projects that I actually worked with them was
also on the Mundraport automation project, so where I was
(11:29):
part of the team which was.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Core Domains as a domain specialist.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
We used to be part of the project where we
created that Technology transformssion plan and subsequently at that time
CMS was actually acquired by TCS and then TCS and
that was the first joint project of.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
CMC and TCS together.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
So that's how we we had our hands and legs
into technology associated with transportation. So what seats that the
IT Bombay has laid in terms of not just the
conventional transportation projects, but they also gave us the training
(12:12):
on systems side of the story as well, So that
always kept us in the chase of using technology to
actually see how we can make the systems better from
the way as to how they can actually show the outcomes.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Got it, got it?
Speaker 1 (12:34):
And then I actually from there I moved on to
Wilba Smith again and I'm a US based MNC where
I was actually involved in traffic and transportation studies.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
We did a lot of the Metro.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I was actually involved in some of those Middle East
projects that they were actually doing for creating the transport plans.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
And then the big change came in when I actually.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Moved to Bangalore on behalf for joining Gilversmith, but as
part of one of our studies, I actually got into
bound into GMR where we were making a presentation to
them on one of their investment prospective investments bids on
highway project. And then they liked us so much and
(13:22):
then especially with me. They actually developed a good rappo
and then they said like, why don't you join it
to be part of the team that we are actually
building And.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
That actually made a big change into career transition.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
That actually happened, and of course GMR I never looked
back again for ten years. How the time passed and
then how we got engaged with the technology and the
operations and traffic studies and all that. And GMA gave
me a big, good platform to explore my passion in
(14:04):
terms of what are the seats that were sown while
I While I studied a lot of its intelligent transport
systems in I T and then subsequently the kind of
base work that we did in TCS, so all that
we were actually able to curate those for infra projects
(14:26):
in GMR, and I grew a lot both.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Professionally and as well as career wise.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
I had I had seen a very steep growth in
GMR and also was able to build a lot of.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Relationships.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
We made a lot of friends, we made a lot
of partnerships and into diverse areas. I think it's not
just only about infra, and actually I remember we were
also exploring auxiliary revenue models for highways, and then we
actually had collaboration with HMS Hosts, which actually runs the
chain of hotels and restaurants and travel accessories across transport
(15:12):
by airports or roads, and those were wonderful times. And
we all were also looking with collaborations with international global
companies and then we get an opportunity to travel. That
was one of the best things that GMR gave us
as a platform to go explore, learn and then come
(15:33):
back and see how we contribute back into the organization
and the projects.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
So I think that was that was with GMR.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
And then subsequently GMR was actually moving on its operations
from Lockstock Barrel from Bangalore to Delhi, and that's when
again the question mark came in because I was I
wasn't in a more to move away from Bangalore.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So with my son just got in into got into schooling.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
And and we never wanted to move to Delhi. So
I tried exploring running between the cities, but it was
a bit challenging.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
So that's when I said, like, I want to move on.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
So though it was a very one of the very
very difficult and challenging decisions that I had to take, again,
I went back to my mentors and then took their
advice and then accordingly I moved on. And then that's
when actually I didn't have even a one day break.
(16:39):
I actually immediately joined a startup in Bangalore called Introwate
and that's again focused on technology solutions for especially the
transportation related problems. And there while I worked on by
already an existing known domain of management systems and traffic
(17:01):
management systems. One of the interesting things that we also
designed a solution was to actually for the continent tracking
project with NEC who were actually tied up with the
National now we call it as a National Industrial Corridor
Development Corporation, so for how.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
To improve the ease of doing business right.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So and this continent tracking container lock up was actually
causing a big bottleneck for improving the efficiencies in the system.
So that problem statement has actually was put thrown at
us as to how we can actually design a system
which can track. And that's when we designed an r
fight based container tracking system. And now I'm very happy
(17:47):
the isihlight that we actually carried out set up and
made it a success is now going places with all
the ports connected and the logistic databank is actually being
built up and it's going very well.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
So I think that's posted that with infrared.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Then I also subsequently got into IBI, so again there's
a story behind why I had to come to IBI.
So me and Deepak were studying together in it Bombay.
Deepak was part of bachelor's program and then I was
(18:24):
actually studying my M tech and taking care of computer labs,
so we bumped into each other more often with his
guide being common and trying to work on computer lab
he was. He came back to India during two thousand
and six and he was trying to set up the
shop for IBA in India and then that's when we
(18:46):
again bumped each other at my professor's place.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
And then he said like what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And then GMR was also looking for toll traffic management
solutions for their highways and then I said, why don't
we work together?
Speaker 3 (19:01):
So I think that's how we started.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
And fortunately they came on board through a bidding process
and that's how the collaboration with IBA started and that
was one of the successful projects that actually happened in
the industry. So one of the flagship projects, I should
say in terms of toll and traffic management systems. Along
gm R highways and when deeper came to know that
(19:24):
I moved on from GMR and then didn't even tell them,
so they were also a little taken awack and said
like we wanted you to be on our side rather
than going around with other things. But then I have
already committed here. So that's when the infrawd. When also
(19:44):
after these projects, there was some sort of a shakeup
happening in because being a startup is a startup, shake
ups keep happening. So there was change of ownership that
was actually happening, and then I said like, okay, no,
I think it's not something.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
For so then I moved on to IBI. So and it's.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Eight year, eight year completed, nine year running for me
again in ib I and two years back after this
took over, and then this is where we are with
all the beautiful projects that we're into and that that's
where yeah, today, I think this is the timeline.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Incredible. Ven I mean, first of all, I mean i'm
asked I would say you're lucky. I mean partly you've
created your luck because you are pursuing your passion right
from you know, the the school days, if you will,
right from I t too right now, you know you
could have fallen preyed, like you said yourself to the
(20:44):
software boom or you know why do k which was there?
And you know it didn't matter in India, right, what mechanical,
what engineer didn't matter. You always became a software engineer, right,
So good to see that you didn't fall prey to that.
See you on that. And then I mean, you know
a lot of impact that you've created along the way,
(21:06):
which we can probably talk about. So the part I
want to ask you next, Venkatis. I mean, obviously this
is a space where you know, twenty years ago you
don't see the type of I mean much like any
other industry perhaps, but I mean at what scale do
you think you know things have changed or innovation has
(21:27):
come through in your world compared to say the rest
of the world, right, I mean when you look at
software or a software engineer if you will, I mean,
you know, every other month or something, there's a new
platform coming. I mean you know off laid It is
AI and things like that. But if you just look
at it through your lens, you know you said you
were working on some of the projects in Mumbai even
(21:49):
when you started out of college too. Right now, I mean,
how do you see innovation or the disruption happening in
your world? And then maybe we can pivot to see
how the technology overlap is happening as well.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
See, I think the transportation we always India always had
that infrastructure deficit, and that's one of the things that
was pulling our economy from boom booming. Right But in
the late nineties, when the infrastructure boom started and the
(22:29):
focus on infrastructure development and investments started coming in, I
think the four more focus in this particular sector was
most on building the basic blocks of actually concrete or
I should say brick and motor activity because there was
huge deficit, so the focus was more on building that
(22:51):
because only when you actually have an infrastructure, that's when
equality infrastructure, that's when you can actually talk of other things.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's more like the backbone of the country.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
The backbone was actually was required, so that was actually
being done. A lot of the innovation was actually happening,
I don't say technology, but innovation was happening on material use,
what type of material that we should actually be using,
and what top of techniques should be used in making
it more faster and making it more improving the quality
(23:22):
of the infrastructure and.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Those kinds of things.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
So the innovation was more focused on fast tracking the
work and making sure the quality is actually is better,
or in terms of how we actually operate that infrastructure
and maintain that infrastructure focused subsequently, So the.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Focus was more on those things.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
But late two thousands, I think that's when the importance
of technology then actually started with the because always we
actually had the limitation of the space, so we couldn't
have actually grown the infrastructure at a pace at which
(24:06):
the vehicle ownerships were actually growing or the transportation volumes
were actually growing, so whether it's people or the goods
that we're actually talking about, So that's when the emphasis
actually came on, how do we manage the infrastructure in
a much more efficient way to make sure that it
(24:26):
would cater to the growing needs of the society or
the economy as a whole. So that's when slowly the
technology started penetrating into it. But I can always say
that that has been a slow adoption in this particular industry,
whether we actually call it as a toll or traffic management,
(24:48):
or whether signaling systems. Even today you can actually see
a city like Bangalore today actually out of its five
hundred plus junctions, we are only talking of an adaptive
solution traffic management. So in just about a year back
we started deploying right. Yeah, So the adoption of technology
has actually been very very slow and uh and uh
(25:13):
uh primarily driven by the funding constraints that and and
the and the I should actually say the education or
understanding of the bureaucracy uh side of the story. So
there like for example Stranache and he understands technology and
(25:36):
its importance and then he's driving it saying that yes,
we need to drive you capitalize the potential of technology
while we continue to do what we're doing. Right, So
that particular aspect was also missing. And with with the
new age bureaucrats coming in, that passion for using technology
is also growing. And then once the best part about
(25:58):
India is that once it only takes a time for
it to adopted. Once they adopted, the scale of the
speed of adoption is like a yeah, yes.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It's like autistics.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So that's how we've actually seen even whether we talk
about fast tag RFDI bays, fast tag tolling and I
remember in GMR we were the first to actually use
RFID to solve one of our burning problems of buses
not being paid. So we need to track how many
buses were going through which were not paying. So we said,
(26:35):
like we will use RFIs the technology for tracking, and
then that becomes a basis for tolling.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
We never imagine. And then that adoption of RAFID was
was a game changer.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
With Nonlekani Committee recommendations and then adoption of that and
then with the push that the government gave in the
recent past were it actually transitioned from fifteen percent penetration
to a ninety eight percent penetration. It's beautiful and it's amazing.
And technology adoption in India has been at a very
(27:09):
fast pace. So that's how it has actually happened. In
the transportation, the ITS we actually call it the Intelligent
Transport systems for the technology side of the whole story
of transportation. The adopt the growth of ITS has actually
been in the last one decade, I should say it
has actually grown substantially and with the growth of the industry,
(27:32):
especially the hardware side, whether it call it the cameras
or scanners or radars or R readers. So although adoption
has actually started growing up and every department is actually
thinking of how they can actually capitalize or how they
can actually adopt technology to improve their operational efficiencies.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
It thank you for that. I mean, one of the
points you mentioned was going to be my next pivot.
So you mentioned bureaucracy. Obviously that that comes in because
I mean, in your world, you I mean, you cannot
avoid the fact that you have to work with the
public sector, the government, and it's a massive collaboration for
(28:15):
everything to come to light. Right, So how would you
say that has kind of evolved over the years. I mean,
obviously to your point, you know, in the late nineteen
nineties and in the last ten years, I mean, the
infrastructure boom. You can visibly see it, right, whether it's
the airports or as they call it, the whole Golden
Quadilateral in terms of you know, all the highways and
(28:38):
the more highways coming up, or the different city metros
that are coming up and things like that. So there
needs to be a really good balance between collaborating with
the government officials, right, and your private sector to make
all these projects to come to life. I mean, so
(28:59):
any thought, son, you know how that has kind of
gotten better over the years, making your life simple. Any
any taught viewpoints from your side banker.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, So again I should say I've been a bit
lucky to having worked with some of the best bureaucrats
in the country. While while my I started my career
with tel Traffic Comprehensive Traffic Transportation Study, and then the
(29:30):
bureaucrats whom I worked with at that point in time
were so visionary and at that point and time they
were talking of how always aligning, not focusing more on
technology alone, but then focusing on how to solve the
problem at large, how to actually make transportation and accessible
to people, and how to leverage transportation to to make
(29:55):
it the economic engine work right. So that was the
vision that that that's the kind of vision that they
actually had in those days, right. And then slowly when
even when I actually worked with say the r fighting
the kind of projects that we I talked about and
whether in TCAs or whether infrawate.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Or in GMR.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
So the best part was while they're understanding on technology
or deep depth was actually not much, but then they
all felt the need for the technology to be there,
to actually be leveraged to fast track or to make
sure the problem solving happens in a better way, right
(30:40):
and and the most innovative way. So I think while
while I say this, I also have encountered a couple
of bureaucrats who who's lack of understanding or knowledge of technology,
they were actually trying to shy away and then keep
the technology away from there.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
They pushed back.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Whenever you go go and then try to discuss some
technology intervention which can actually make things better, they say no, no, no, no, please,
don't disturb the way is working, and then you continue
to do what you're doing. Yeah, so I had, well,
you have both sides, but I can always say that
(31:22):
the ones who are actually more forthcoming and adopting technology
is almost like on a majority today. So and that's
why where you can actually see this kind of a
boom and India becoming a digital force as well in
the globe. So so I think that that's where the
(31:43):
whole story is.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Yeah. So, I mean, again, based on what you're saying,
I think I feel like it's in a much better
place than what it was, you know, maybe a decade
ago or a couple of decades ago. And that's a
testament to the progress that's been made as well. Right,
So being in Bangal or a venkt, I mean you obviously,
I mean Bangler calls itself the silicon value of India
(32:06):
or the Silicon value of the East. I mean with
the number of startups, a number of people moving there,
you know, all the VC funds there and things like
that I've seen in the press as well. I mean,
you know, in your current role in arcadis Ibi, you
do partner with startups, right, I mean you can obviously
innovate internally in your role, but at the same time,
(32:26):
I mean you know, in a startup world, I mean
you know, those ideas move fast, and there is a
plenty of opportunity for you to collaborate with some of
those best to breed solutions as well. Right, So how
do you go about picking and choosing what you build
internally within your team and these are the opportunities for
you to collaborate with a startup or collaborate with another partner,
(32:51):
how do you make those decisions?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Like?
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Yeah, see, one of the one of the fundamental principles
that you all believed in and was always to actually
make sure that we are collaborating both with our customers
and also with with our partners. And OEMs and startups,
so we very well know that not everything can be
(33:16):
done by ourselves, even if we would want to develop
that particular competency. Also, we always have that decision making
is in terms of how efficient it is for us
to and whether to do it internally or whether we
actually collaborate with someone else.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Right, So, our our.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Main strength is our domain expertise and our ability to
actually curate solution, right. So that's that's our strengths as
the team, whether it's haartred Is or whether it in
tc IS or wherever we were actually working our our
that that's the core strength that we used to look
at and especially now when we're working as archad is
(33:57):
when we're trying to build this solution of AST or
whether that traffic management solution adaptive signaling system, or whether
we are working in other mining ORISA mining corporation projects
that we that we delivered our traffic management on highways
that we are actually working on everywhere. I think our
strength is actually is curating a solution to solve the problem,
(34:20):
right and what ingredients make that solution work. We are
not we want to actually collaborate with the external world,
and that's where we actually have looked at as the
best thing that could actually happen is if the best
comes in yeah, right, and then when you stitch this
thing together, and and if you're able to focus more
(34:44):
on problem solving, on our own core strength, because we
believe that when it's not my strength, I.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Don't need to.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Start building that and I can liberate on someone else's strength.
And who's that's the core of someone else? Right, So
keep you keep stick to your core, and then bring
the core of others, uh to build the solution and
then make it happen.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
I think that's perfect well said, Yeah, well said. And
that's a great approach. I mean, and I will stand
the test of time as well. Right, So that's awesome.
So everybody, uh, you know these days uses some bit
of AI, or at least trying to use some bit
of AI. How has AI impacted your world? In the world,
(35:32):
if say, transportation systems or everything else the plateau of
things that arkadis Ibi does.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
Today, No doubt, I think a A has has a
great potential. I think it's it's one of the biggest
disruptions that could actually be as our generation could have
actually seen. And I see transportation getting benefited with AI
a lot. But the point here is I think what
(36:02):
I'm seeing and is about the more of an abuse
of the word AI then and better use So I
actually feel like I think it's important.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
That we have.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Use cases built and developed, and a lot of startups
are actually coming in in this space as well, and
we should we should actually be able to leverage those
startups and collaborations with Academy. I think that's one of
the important things that we need to look at when
we're actually focusing on these AI and deep tech collaborations.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
So, coming to your point.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Of impact of AI, I see AI playing a major
role in every uh, every transportation segment, and not only
in the transportation set, but also in every stage of.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
The life cycle of the transportation project.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Right whether it's actually playing a big role in design,
it's playing a big role in development, or in terms
of construction stage, it's going to play a big role
in operations.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
And maintenance as well.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Yeah, So at all the phases, I actually see AI
having a big role to play. And apart from that,
even the digital twin I would like to bring that
also into play that that also is going to be
one of the big things that that's going to disrupt
the industry.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
You can simulate almost anything and everything, and yeah, yeah, perfect.
So record, we've come to a section which we're going
to call the they'll say question, and I'm going to
ask you five questions and you can give a super
short answer and we can move on to the next question.
If you'd like to elaborate, feel free. So you already,
I mean, I think I know the answer to the
(37:59):
first question. I'm going to ask you who's your role
model or your inspiration. I think you're going to say
somebody from your I T days, But if it's not,
that's okay. But any any inspiration you have in your
career venkor Yeah, I think one of.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
The great inspirations that I actually had. Of course processing
there has always been my mentor and he has guided
me although and he continues to guide me.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
So from a professional point of view, I actually take.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Mister Streeter and as as a role model in terms
of as a karma yogi what what we called him,
and the kind of contributions that he has become a
metro man having a single minded focus of actually solving
the problem in terms of and making sure building an
institution which actually lasts longer and beyond beyond an individual
(38:52):
and beyond a time. Right, So I think that's where
I admire him. And he's professionally, he's my role model.
I always looked upon to his life to draw some
lessons for myself.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
That is great. So the next one is any favorite
book or a documentary that you have that you keep
going back to for inspiration.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
I again here, I have two points. I always been.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
Reading from my childhood days right from my and then
more than I don't see it as a religious book,
but as a as a text which actually has always
inspired me every time I read something, and then it
actually contextualizes and gives me solution. While I see this
as a as a book that I can actually go
(39:53):
back all the times on a contemporary And I happened
to read the book called The Professional based Brother Bakshi
uh And and I really admire that book and I
enjoy that book. And that's one book that i've actually
i'm not and I give that to as many of them,
(40:16):
both to my customers and to my team members all
the times. And that's been one of the wonderful books
that I've read and have candidly expressed a lot of
those dilemmas that a professional would actually come across in
his or her careers and then provide some best guidance.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
So thank you. I've not read that book myself, so
I will I will look.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Probably I would give.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Let me see next. So on the same lines as
the first two. I mean, what's what's the I mean say,
I would say you obviously get advice, But I mean
if somebody day one in their careers or year one
in their careers, creditor, respective of which career they are in,
(41:07):
what is one piece of advice you would give them.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
I think one of the things that I keep I
keep telling the youth and young whenever I go to
colleges and other places.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
Is actually to be staying socially relevant.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
So in whichever the tech, whichever the domain that you are,
I think what is important is to actually stay socially
and relevant because that's what is going to stay forever.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
I think, whether you are.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Solving a community problem, or a transportation problem, or a
climate problem or whatsoever, I think, as long as you
are actually solving and staying relevant socially and trying to
solve the problem of a community. So that's where I
think we will have a long way to go and
(41:53):
we will be sustainable for a longer period of time,
and that would actually help you to build a career
for oneself.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
I think that advice that I would like.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
To keep, yeah, beautifully said. And in your career, I mean,
you've obviously achieved a lot of things already. There's a
one many more great things ahead if you want. But
I mean, what's if you were to point out one
thing that you're super proud of in your career, any
anything that comes to mind.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
So as as I told you so one of the
I think there are there are many to that point,
and I've always released a lot of these good things
that we were actually doing, uh primarily when when we
actually started exploring RFID technology per safe for solving the
(42:48):
bush tolling problem. So that actually I felt one of
the biggest breakthroughs that we actually had to actually how
to leverage technology. And same way, I think I would
also want to add the current Astrum project that we
(43:08):
were actually delivering to Bangalo Traffic Police, actionable intelligence for
sustainable traffic management. I think that is one of the
things that I feel I will be very if you
ask me this question.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
You're basically projecting it for the future.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
Yes, it is one of the breakthroughs that that that
I would be.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Yeah, I could see that myself too, because I mean
that is such a complex project. I mean, you know
the amount of scaling.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Problem like a traffic condition problem in a city like Bangalow.
I always tell that I don't think well be able
to solve with a click or with but it's only
through a strong collaboration and everybody's involvement and engagement is
what is very important. And that's one of the reasons
(44:00):
why we are also trying to see how to engage
community into this initiative and want to make this from
a We have transitioned that slowly from a project to
a program. Now from program to a mission. So that's
how we are actually looking as should become a mission.
Uh leave a part of the name whatever that name
(44:21):
is the thing a strategic weapon that we were trying
to create for us to solve the problem in the
hands of empowering the traffic police.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
So so thanks thanks Francott. I mean I must say
every time I come to Bangalore and stop it as
a traffic signal and I look at the signal and
wait there. I always think it's you, you know, thinking that.
I mean, you're doing something to play a big role
via arcade IS and work with the Bangloor Traffic Police
to complex all those solved problems with AI and all
(44:52):
the new technology that you're bringing in. So I learned
a ton today, Venkott. I mean, I'm going to look
up the book and your inspiration and all of that.
It's it's a great learning for me to learn more
about you and your journey. So thanks so much for
taking the time today, Vankored. I mean, I'm sure we'll
meet up in person soon, but for my audience here,
(45:12):
thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Thanks a lot, Anthony. And then it was pleasure talking
to you. I think you've made me to time travel
back and having some pleasant memories from my life. So
thanks for that time. And then I hope you've got
what you wanted from the Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:33):
Absolutely, I mean, you know, this is this is what
this podcast is all about, you know, learning from people
like you and uh, you know, try to replicate some
of your learning. So thanks so much, Ncer, take care,
Thank you, thank you so much.
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