The Inframan: Suhas Mehta
NO TASK IS TOO SMALL, AND NO CHALLENGE IS TOO BIG for Mr. Suhas Mehta. With this ideology, Mr. Mehta has come a long way from his humble beginnings in the 10*10 residence in his birth town Mahad to the prestigious IIT Bombay, from where he pursued civil engineering, and finally to his present company, SMC. Today, SMC boasts of a turnover of Rs. 1000 crore with more than 4500 employees working for it in India, the Middle East, and Africa. Mr. Suhas Mehta is simply unstoppable. His love and passion for infrastructure continue to grow year after year.
Airoli Katai Naka Tunnel, inaugural blast by Shri Eknath Shinde, UD Minister for Government of Maharashtra
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Hailing from a small town but born to very humble and intelligent parents, Mr. Suhas Mehta was brilliant in academics. He always topped in his class and eventually secured admission to India’s most prestigious engineering college, the IIT Bombay. The boy who had never heard of IIT till his board exams was recently felicitated by IIT Bombay as a Distinguished Alumnus, an award conferred to only around 150 out of 60,000 IITians who have passed out from IIT Bombay. It was a massive cultural shift for a young lad from a small town to come to an engineering college in a big town. There is always the fear of ragging. But his adjusting and friendly nature saw him sail through it. He feels that a certain amount of ragging makes one smart, and IIT and its hostel life help one stay grounded and broaden one’s horizons. Had it not been for the IIT, he feels his engineering career would not have flourished to such an extent.
Inauguration of SMC’s RCF STP by Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge), and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India.
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Another noteworthy feature of Mr. Suhas Mehta is that, though he wanted to become a Chartered Accountant, he still went by the career choice made by his family and made the best of it to become a Civil Engineer instead!
Business has always been a part of his career plan, and he chose Civil Engineering so that it would involve less investment in the initial stages. To gain experience, he first took up a job in a private company that gave him one-fourth of the fat salary of the Government job offered to him in a campus interview. He held this job for one and a half years, accumulated a great learning experience, which included the construction of the new wing at KEM Hospital, wherein he shouldered the responsibility of the RCC Structure.
India’s one of the finest Municipal Solid Waste Management Plants in Goa developed by SMC
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Before starting the job, he wanted to understand the working style of the top Parsi companies in the infrastructure business. Working with one such top company made him understand the importance of quality and planning, which are the main prerequisites of the infrastructure business.
SMC’s Mall of Muscat which is also known as the Biggest mall in Oman
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After gaining some work experience, Mr. Mehta decided to commence his own business at the age of just 25. He joined hands with his friend, Mr. Prashant Mahagaokar. The duo’s affable nature helped them bag their first sub-contract of making a railway overbridge at Mahim, a fabrication work.
When quizzed about how SMC happened, he tells KYT that SMC was originally Sheth and Masurkar Company. Mr. Arun Sheth was one of the partners, who offered Mr. Mehta to do one bridge project. When Mr. Mehta completed the bridge, he was immediately offered a partnership by Mr. Sheth, and thus the SMC journey for Mr. Mehta began. SMC has come a long way from a turnover of a few crores to a turnover of 1000-crore. It has spread its wings across India, the Middle East, and Africa.
Southbound Flyover on EEH at AGLR Junction
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Initially, they were mainly in the pipeline/water distribution system business. Later they diversified into many new verticals with their zeal to explore different fields. They started taking on large projects. One of them was the rehabilitation work of most of the flyovers and bridges around Mumbai.
A very noteworthy feature of Mr. Suhas Mehta that draws one’s attention is that instead of competing with his community people who were into similar business, he preferred to lookout for specialized work and opportunities in newer markets that lay outside Maharashtra. It was a challenge to work outside and out of his comfort zone. However, he took that challenge in his stride. He believes that challenges bring out the best in a person and adds to the experience. Moreover, the business relationship that turned into a friendship that he enjoys with almost all top companies in this field in India helped him take this leap. He believes that working in a comfort zone leads to complacency, and complacency is the biggest enemy of one’s career.
TMC’s state of the art Sports Complex developed by SMC in Mumbra
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Infrastructure business is too risky as it involves many stakeholders, he says. He recalls an incident in Odisha when he was working on the Brahmani River. The poverty-ridden, furious workers who were paid a daily wage of a meager sum of Rs.10 threatened to burn the excavator that cost him a sum of Rs. 25 lakhs then.
His affable nature came to his rescue, and one of his IITan friends Rajeev from Gaya, helped him by providing him with top-level security. This incident led him to believe that building an extensive network is far better than building a significant net worth. This could be an important lesson for some millennials who think otherwise.
SMC’s work in Naxalite areas of Warangal taught him that the Infrastructure business demands a high level of secrecy and specific protocols wherein they were asked not to disclose their journey plans to their workers and supervisors.
Sewage Treatment Plant at RCF, Chembur, largest in India based on MBR and followed by RO developed by SMC
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SMC has played a pivotal role in the development of Thane. One of its prominent projects—SATIS (Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme), taken up by SMC, was the first of its kind project in India, which segregated the city’s traffic. It bagged many awards eventually. SATIS Bridge which connects Thane railway station (which also happens to be the busiest railway station in Mumbai suburbs), was an arduous project. There were many amendments, changes, and restrictions due to which SMC incurred losses. But such losses have never deterred Team SMC, led by Mr. Suhas Mehta. Instead, it was treated as a learning experience and eventually used to earn profits by showcasing it and bagging similar other projects. The work of SATIS was completed in 30,000 accident-free hours, primarily working at night since it was a challenge to work during the day in the station area which attracts a huge footfall. It was only possible due to the assistance provided by TMC and the Police authorities.
The other prominent projects handled by SMC in Thane are Kausa Stadium, water treatment plant, water pumping stations, water distribution network, the first UTWT road (road building technology), and MSRTC Bus stand project. The projects in the pipeline include SATIS at Kopri, Bridge for new Thane railway station, K villa Bridge, Airoli-Katai naka tunnel road which will bring Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan cities close, Mumbra Y junction flyover, Shilphata Kalyanphata flyovers, among others.
Mr. Mehta along with SMC Staff at Thane office
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Mr. Suhas Mehta loves diversification. He says, “Change in work de-stresses me and makes me active and feel fresh. Another reason behind diversification is that the company remains financially stretched. Financial discomfort helps keep the company bonded.” He believes in simplicity and keeping his lifestyle in tune with his teammates, which helps in keeping everyone grounded. He believes excess money is the root cause of trouble. The attrition rate of his company is almost 0%, and he shares a great rapport with all his employees, which is also the reason they have been with him for more than three decades.
Over a period of time, SMC has diversified. The opportunities keep bumping into Mr. Mehta through his friends. He has an inherent knack for grabbing the good ones. For example, the LED manufacturing unit at Baramati, whose unique model has helped the Municipal Authorities save on energy consumption, was the brainchild of Mr. Rajan Gulgule.
Similarly, Goa’s Municipal Solid Waste treatment plant was a joint project developed by Mr. Mehta and his senior at IIT Bombay, Mr. Sandeep Asolkar. The then Chief Minister of Goa – Late Shri Manohar Parrikar had thrown this as a challenge and the project was completed successfully by SMC. They created one of the nation’s finest waste treatment plants in North Goa that treats 300 tons of waste daily and generates 26 thousand units of energy which has caught the eye of our Hon. Prime Minister. Many state heads have visited it personally.
Core team of SMC
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SMC has also done tremendous work in Oman. At one point in time, their business in the Middle East was more than India. SMC constructed Oman’s biggest Mall of 32 lakh square feet in a record-breaking time. They constructed two lakh square feet a month. SMC has also been doing projects in Maldives and Africa. It’s a running joke that the SMC staff complains that our boss takes us to work when people go on vacation.
Asia’s biggest water treatment plant located in Bhandup is also one of their milestone projects, an opportunity provided by Degremont (now Suez). SMC accepts every opportunity that comes its way. Mr. Suhas Eklahare (Mr. Mehta’s friend from IIT-B) has recently taken over a Noise Barrier Company. After the takeover, the under-performing unit’s turnover increased from Rs. 4 crores to Rs. 91 crores. Significant noise barriers in Mumbai, Thane, and other metro cities have been installed by this company. Noise barriers are a need of the hour today.
Mr. Mehta with his grand daughter Mr. Mehta conferred with B. Tech degree in Civil Engineering by IIT Bombay
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Mr. Mehta has genuinely adopted the green initiative by tackling water and wastewater treatment, Municipal Solid Waste treatment, saving on conventional energy using LEDs, and curtailing the often overlooked noise pollution.
Being an Infrastructure person, when quizzed as to what, according to him, are the essentials for the development of any city, he prioritizes and emphasizes good water supply, education, recreation areas, and roads. He lives by the words, money may bring comfort, but relations will keep you away from discomfort. Mr. Mehta is not only well versed in engineering, taxation, and finance but also has a plethora of knowledge on history, books, sports, and travel. He has often been the guiding light to the new generation and his friends and colleagues.
Mr. Suhas Mehta attributes his success to his biggest support system: his family, especially his wife Nilima, who managed his family and her own business. Behind every successful man stands a strong and supportive family. His son Ameya has also joined him in the business, following in his father’s footsteps. His daughter Dr. Arya still remembers how he always gave quality time to his family, friends, and relatives during his busy formative years of business.
Mr. Suhas Mehta with his wife Nilima, daughter Arya and son Ameya
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Mr. Suhas Mehta’s SMC is entrusted with the work of beautification of Thane City. Soon you will see this lake city more beautiful and elegant. As the yawning gap between people’s expectations and the deliverance of amenities increases by the day, people like Mr. Suhas Mehta bridge it. In the era of smart cities, Mehta has become crucial. Hence S’M’C (Smart Mehta city)!
Read E Magazine- Suhas Mehta-June 22
