Pune: The integration of technology and creativity is driving quality improvements in the construction industry, but developers must give greater emphasis to documentation and safety, stated Avinash Patil, Director of the State Urban Planning Department. He further urged urban developers to take the lead in rural projects initiated by the urban planning division.
Patil was speaking at the 28th ‘BAI-Shirke Well-Built Structure Competition 2024’ award ceremony, hosted by the Builders Association of India (BAI), Pune Center, and sponsored by B.G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd., at Hotel Sheraton Grand, Pune.
The event’s highlight was the presentation of the ‘BAI-Padma Shri B.G. Shirke Lifetime Achievement Award (Nirman Ratna 2024)’ to Ramesh Dhoot of Dhoot Industries Group. The award included a Puneri Pagdi, shawl, memento, citation, and a cash prize of ₹1,11,000, which Dhoot generously donated to support educational assistance for workers’ children.
Recognizing Excellence in Construction
The event celebrated exceptional contributions across various construction categories:
Residential: GRIT-Environmental Design Plus Research Studio, Pride Builders, Nirman Developers, and Cavalcade Properties.
Commercial: Pride Builders LLP, Vilas Jawadekar Eco Shelters, and Phoenix Group (Hyderabad).
Industrial: Escon Projects and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Infrastructure: Rohan Builders India and A.S. Desai Infrastructure.
Government Projects: Harshe Constructions.
Special Categories: Millennium Engineers and Private Ltd. (Work Up to Bare Shell) and Across Nodes Transit Solutions (Best Brownfield Project).
Dhoot shared his experiences, saying, “Starting as a small contractor, my journey transformed into a thriving business group. Civil engineers must embody hard work and adaptability, akin to soldiers who rise to challenges wherever required.”
K. Vishwanathan, President of All India BAI, lauded the efforts of BAI Pune Center, emphasizing how competitions like this bring forward innovation and excellence in the construction industry. The event also marked the launch of the BAI Engineering Diary.