* Sathya (truth) * Dharma (righteousness) * Santhi (peace) * Prema (divine love) * Ahimsa (nonviolence)

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Dedicated to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Babaon his 85th birthday - November 23, 2010

Om Sri Sai Ram

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is one of the rare professional organizations active in engineering & construction with an annual sales volume of nearly $10 billion and is the largest such organization in India. L&T enjoys the good fortune and unique distinction of having been associated with Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh) for over two decades. Founded by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Trust has been rendering selfless service to the society and spearheading the global spiritual message of universal brotherhood of mankind through dedicated efforts and commitment to the common man, transcending all barriers with amazing impact and unparalleled success. The Trust has been making a tremendous contribution to the upliftment of the individual and development of the society through education, healthcare and supply of safe drinking water to water starved people across several districts in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai in particular. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba strongly feels that education, healthcare and drinking water, being the vital necessities of every individual, are fundamental to life and development of the society at large. And L&T takes pride in having been a partner in progress with Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust in meeting some of these vital needs through its infrastructure development capabilities.

In tune with the vision and mission of our founding father “In Service Lies Success”, propounded by Mr. Henning Holck-Larsen, L&T has been providing necessary infrastructure for meeting the Trust’s objectives at different locations. Beginning its journey twenty years ago with a small contract to build the community flats, L&T continues its construction journey uninterrupted till date. Miraculous are the ways with which it has been delivering projects with quality and speed, meeting the requirements of the Trust and Bhagawan’s devotees.

L&T stepped into Prasanthi Nilayam at a time when the Trust was in the thick of action with ambitious plans and critical projects, all aimed at meeting the needs of millions of devotees expected to throng Puttaparthi for Swami’s 65th birthday on November 23, 1990. L&T was entrusted with some of these critical projects to be executed with a stringent time frame. Typical of L&T, our site team took up the challenging assignments and completed the projects, well ahead of time. As a result, fully convinced and pleased with the high quality and extraordinary performance of L&T, the Trust, with the blessings of Swami, began entrusting the Company with more and more critical projects, year after year in succession and L&T has never looked back since then. We now look back with joy and pride at our association with the Trust and executing some of the most wonderful structures that are magnificent in shape and spectacular in size, built with devotion and abiding faith, defying every threat, every obstacle and meeting the deadlines with single-mindedness. Now, on the occasion of Swami’s 85th birthday on November 23, 2010, we take pleasure in releasing this special prestige publication, chronicling every major project we have executed for the Trust during the last twenty years. We are presenting them in a comprehensive manner, illustrated through beautiful and colourful photo features, interspersed with images of Bhagawan and quotes on L&T’s work by eminent people who are associated with the conceptualization and implementation of His projects.

For L&T, the projects that we have executed for Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and the interactions our people had with Swami are matchless in character, monumental in stature and divine in nature. Everyone in L&T looks upon these projects with high esteem as divine; the innervating experiences they have gained during execution are remarkable and beyond explanation. We acknowledge with joy that many of these projects were forerunners in their own field and paved the way for L&T bagging much bigger and massive orders, specifically in healthcare/hospital sectors and water supply projects.

We cherish and admire every single project we have executed for Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, illustrated herein. Our joy of looking at these projects over and over again is only overflowing with this happiness and ecstasy. We are awe struck when we look at them even today. We share our irresistible joy and gratifying memories through this special publication and dedicate it to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on his 85th birthday. May God bless everyone on earth and make this planet a unique place to live in and prosper, touching hearts and transforming lives.

Om Sri Sai Ram.

(K.V. Rangaswami)Member of the Board & President (Construction)

Larsen & Toubro Limited

In Service Lies Success

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Spectrum of Divine Construction

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20 Landmark Years in Sai Service A brief on Sri Sathya Sai BabaSri Sathya Sai Central TrustPrasanthi NilayamSwami’s Style of Project ManagementPerspectives of Divine ConstructionDwellings for the devoteesHanuman StatueSri Sathya Sai AirportCanteen Buildings Boys’ HostelHill View StadiumSai Kulwant HallShopping CentreBook Trust BuildingMusic CollegeSchool of Dance and MusicSri Pedda Venkamaraju Kalyana MandapamKalyana Mandapam, HyderabadChaitanya JyothiSuper Specality Hospital, PrasanthigramSri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, WhitefieldSri Sathya Sai International Centre for SportsB-School for Women at AnantapurSai Bhaktha NivasPrasanthi Tower, MuddenahalliUniversity College Campus, MuddenahalliSri Sathya Sai Water Supply ProjectsSathya Sai Ganga CanalGodavari Drinking Water Supply Project

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It was my good fortune that I was invited, during 1990, to a dinner hosted by Sri V. Srinivasan, Chairman, WS Industries (India) Ltd. and former All-India President, CII, during the visit of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to Madras. It was during the dinner that I had the first opportunity of a personal chat from Bhagawan with me which made me travel to Puttaparthi. Col. S.P. Joga Rao coordinated the visit to Puttaparthi and subsequently told me of the immediate requirement for some construction to be taken up for the benefit of devotees at Prasanthi Nilayam. Thus began L&T’s engagement with Bhagawan and the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust to continue to work on projects of a humanitarian nature and social value as per Swami’s wishes and directions. I was at that time Group General Manager of Engineering Construction & Contracts (ECC) Division, reporting to Sri C.R. Ramakrishnan, Joint Managing Director. He too joined me in my subsequent visits to Puttaparthi, and Swami had so fondly given both of us interviews whenever we visited Prasanthi Nilayam. In the later years CRR and I had many occasions to meet Bhagawan, including the one in Kodaikanal and Swami used to call CRR ‘pedda Ramakrishna’ and me, ‘chinna Ramakrishna’. It is good I am recalling CRR’s association as he is no more with

20 Landmark Years in Sai Service... Historic Anecdotes

us but was responsible for giving me enough freedom to take up Swami’s projects at cost or with low profit as a very very special case, as they met many social requirements of the country and L&T as a good corporate citizen was obliged to take up such works, even though with a different approach.

During his annual visits to Kodaikanal, Swami used to meet and interact quite frequently with many devotees. In one such interaction with Mrs. Grete Toubro, wife of L&T’s co-founder Mr. Soren Kristian Toubro, at Hochelaga, L&T’s Holiday Home, He blessed her with a ring which he materialized. On another occasion He also met Mr. Ole K Toubro, son of Mr. S K Toubro, and blessed him. Our former Chairman Mr. N.M. Desai and current Chairman Mr. A.M. Naik also had interviews with Swami and were similarly blessed. I believe that the Company has grown by leaps and bounds and achieved good reputation to ultimately become the leader in engineering & construction, technology and manufacturing and won laurels as a professional organization with good value systems. On a request from us Swami was graceful to visit L&T’s ECC Headquarters Campus at Manapakkam in Chennai and spent some time and blessed all the employees.

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The occasion became very memorable for all of us at L&T.Normally big companies and corporate entities make donations to some non-profit organizations to meet their corporate social responsibility objects and do not go beyond the gesture. In the case of Swami’s projects, L&T took a different route to serve the noble cause of social responsibility by providing engineering and construction services at low cost. L&T achieved this by participating in the projects with full intensity and involvement to execute the projects as per Swami’s directions and in the shortest time possible and with high quality, safety, honesty, sincerity and professional approach in the national interest. Serving good causes and helping millions through Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has been a very valuable and rewarding experience as it proved to be extremely beneficial not only for those causes but also for L&T in taking such strategic directions which ultimately led to the Company’s growth during the two decades that followed, during which L&T has been associated with the Trust. Mr. C.R. Ramakrishnan retired by December 1991 and it was my turn to lead the ECC Division which celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1994 and Diamond Jubilee in 2004. Mr. K.V. Rangaswami succeeded me in January 2005 and continued the policies to support Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust in their socially relevant construction projects. I plan to give below for the benefit of readers a few instances and experiences to substantiate the influence that a godly person could have on organizations as well as individuals.

Left: Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba flanked by Late C.R. Ramakrishnan (left) and A. Ramakrishna (right). Above: Three generation leaders of ECC with their spouses - (from left) C.R. Ramakrishnan, A. Ramakrishna and K.V. Rangaswami with L&T’s Chairman and Managing Director, A.M. Naik.

The first work to be taken up by L&T in Bhagawan’s cause was to build quickly a housing for the enormous number of devotees for their short-term as well as long-term stay. A new technology was used in the project - RCC walls and slab using large area system formwork in place of the beam and column method with conventional formwork and brick/block masonry. I had the good experience of interacting with Bhagawan with the plans made by us and modified as per His instructions, with open verandahs outside for access to various rooms. The project - ‘W’ Blocks – (and later on ‘S’ and ‘N’ Blocks) was completed in 3-4 months’ time to high quality and most economically. This new approach was chosen to save cost and time and the job was executed at rates lower than normal rate per sq.ft.

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During this period it so happened that a devotee came to Bhagawan with an offer to put up a Hanuman statue, nearly 65 feet tall (to match with the 65th birthday of Swami), on the top of a hill next to an open air stadium of Sri Sathya Sai University. Swami materialized a small vigraha of Hanuman holding the Sanjivini hill in hand and wanted a statue to be built as per that colourful model and identical in form to the vigraha. He wanted it to be the tallest statue visible right through Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi and its neighbourhood. L&T designed the 65 ft. high structure in concrete, reinforced with a steel structure inside and covered with concrete to enable the sthapathis ultimately make the big statue to fine detail as per the model given to us. Designing the arm of Hanuman holding the hill posed problems of getting the structural steel inside and we had to use the angavasthram to give the additional support for the heavy load from the hill. When we made the drawing for the structural steel inside the concrete with all calculations it ultimately turned out to be like the bone structure of a human being, thus enlightening us to the reality that human beings are only trying to understand the laws of structural engineering which are already existing in His creation. The statue was finally complete in time for Swami’s 65th birthday and in a short time, along with an artificial waterfall from the hill with arrangements for illumination and re-circulation of water as desired by Swami.

We were asked to construct a canteen (which later came to be known as the South Indian Canteen) during a short period when Swami would be away from Prasanthi Nilayam traveling in Bangalore and Kodaikanal. The canteen is normally very full when Swami is present in Prasanthi Nilayam and its capacity needed to be increased to meet the needs of thousands of devotees who come for darshan. The time available was hardly five months. It is a very long building, two-storied, with a width of approx. 9 metres along the main road from the gopuram entrance, right up to the Shanthi

A. Ramakrishna receiving the FIP certificate for the “Most Outstanding Concrete Structure Award - 1994” for Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam at Hyderabad at the Washington Congress.Other two structures that won the “Most Outstanding Concrete Structure Award” - L&T’s Administrative Office Building (right top) now renamed as “CRR Centre” (inset) the new look of the building and Engineering Design and Research Centre (right) - both situated in the Headquarter Campus of L&T in Chennai.

Bhavan opposite the administrative office and Poorna Chandra Auditorium. As a construction solution we decided on a precast concrete structure so that while foundations were being laid, precast elements for floor and roof could be cast at the site and erected. We could complete the work within a short period at a very fast pace and proved to ourselves the efficacy of precast solutions for economy and fast work.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthi Nilayam

The above small beginnings led to many other constructions of a much larger scale and complexity, of particular interest from L&T’s growth perspective. One of the landmark projects was the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences which had some international donors led by Mr. Isaac Tigrett and Mr. John Sinclair who were inspired by Swami’s wish to provide high quality cardiac surgery free of cost to the poor from rural areas. This also brought Dr. Keith Critchlow, a renowned architect from the Prince of Wales School of Architecture and with a reputation of association with the Buckingham Palace, to design the hospital. I had the privilege of joining the discussions, led by Swami, with these foreign devotees and Col. Joga Rao who was coordinating all the construction activities at that time. It was amazing that while Swami was communicating in Telugu language, some of the foreigners told me at the end of the meeting that they understood everything even though they did not know one word of Telugu. I had the first hand experience of how Swami communicates with people and makes them understand everything. The work commenced with one set of drawings prepared by the architect and the project had to be completed in a year’s time as per the announcement of Swami that he would inaugurate the hospital on his 65th birthday. L&T was introduced as the engineer and constructor with inputs from the architect and a few specialist consultants brought by Mr. Isaac Tigrett.

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For four months from then on, there was not much progress on the ground and everyone was wondering how this hospital would be ready within the remaining eight months unless there were to be a miracle by Swami. I must say a miracle did indeed happen. I was waiting to be a part of the drama that was to unfold thereafter. Swami called for a luncheon meeting and praised everyone involved in the project and told Dr. Keith Critchlow and Mr. Isaac Tigrett to hand over the architectural drawings to A. Ramakrishna of L&T and said that he would complete the job before November 23 and complimented them for their contributions. He also invited them to the inauguration of the hospital on his 65th birthday. Faced with the daunting task, I told Swami before my other fellow devotees from abroad that we at L&T would try our best to do the job but Bhagawan corrected me by saying, “You are going to finish the job and not try!” The drawings given by Dr. Critchlow indicated a hospital that will look better than even the Buckingham Palace but we have to fit in a functioning super speciality hospital as per the requirements of Dr. Venugopal, the renowned cardiologist and Dr. A.N. Safaya, the then Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. We searched for a local architect having experience in operating theatres and detailed planning to complement our own design effort to make detailed engineering drawings good for construction. And we found one Mr. Thomas Rajan and took him to Swami to receive His blessings. He motivated all of us, particularly Mr. Thomas Rajan, to work closely with one another. We then started

two-shift operations for the construction work with all mobilization of staff, workmen and plant & equipment for a job which we thought was almost an impossible task. Days and weeks went by and even though there was some good progress, the end was not in sight. In between, torrential rains came, disrupting the work. Import of high quality hospital equipment from abroad and their installation was also part of the job. The erection of an intricate and heavy (2-ton) chandelier in the entrance dome was also part of L&T’s scope of work. The work was going on at hectic pace and I was one of the few who were most concerned about the completion of target as the Prime Minister was to inaugurate the hospital and the first operation was to be performed on that day (Swami’s birthday). Swami used to come to site for inspection and motivate people at site. He used to distribute sweets and clothes to workmen. We used to worry about the 3 to 4 working hours lost whenever He visited site. The amount of work that was done in the last one week, particularly the cleaning operation in the last three days, with the help of the Seva Dal was unbelievable and in fact a miracle. The night prior to the day of inauguration we were still giving finishing touches to the floor under the central dome and erecting the beautiful and intricate chandelier. The operation theatres were ready 10 days earlier for the doctors to make the entire environment anti-septic. Air-conditioning, water supply, sanitary engineering and waste disposal treatment work and other systems were all in place. The first cardiac surgery for 4 poor patients was performed

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successfully on the day as announced by Swami and the hospital got inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, after such an unbelievably short time of construction!

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Whitefield, Bangalore

A few years later Swami similarly announced a new hospital in the Whitefield area of Bangalore. This was also a design-and-build job done by L&T. The structure was completed in eleven months and the finishing works took another three months. This building was also received well by the public as it offers free speciality services to people suffering from cardiac-related ailments. The involvement of L&T in the design and construction of this hospital increased the Company’s reputation and it could secure many hospital contracts subsequently. One of these notable projects is the hospital constructed for the Government of India at Bhuj in Gujarat after the occurrence of a devastating earthquake. To make it earthquake-resistant, L&T constructed the new building using base isolator technology in a short period of one year.

Water Supply Projects

The design and construction of a water supply project to cover 750 villages in Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh was a turning point for L&T to diversify into the field of water projects. After the Anantapur project we did many such

projects in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other states of India and L&T started a new division called Water & Effluent Treatment Business Unit. The diversification into this area has been so successful for L&T that the company continues to do work in the field to the tune of Rs. 2,000 Cr. every year.

At the time of inauguration of the water supply project for Anantapur District, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, then Prime Minister, commented that only a spiritual person like Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba could solve the drinking water problem of the district. He described the district as “anantha” endlessly (“poor”) and said when he was a minister in the state government, he could not get water for the suffering people. He went on to say that after completion of the project the district has become ‘Anandapuri’, bringing happiness to one and all in the district.

Sri Sathya Nigamagamam

This is a project for providing a multi-purpose auditorium and dining facilities in a two-acre plot near Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad. This was a design-and-build contract with Mr. R. Chakrapani as architect. It turned out to be such an outstanding structure, both architecturally and structurally, that it fetched for L&T a Certificate of Merit from FIP (Federation Internationale de la Precontrainte; later on known as Federation International du Beton – FIB), an international association for prestressed concrete, at its Washington Congress (FIP holds a World Congress every four years) in

Left: A. Ramakrishna briefing the salient features of Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to Swami during his visit to the site at Chennai. L&T completed this 40000 seat capacity stadium in just 260 days. Right: Swami with Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, then Prime Minister of India and Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh during the dedication of water supply project to the nation. This water supply project solved the water problem of 750 villages in Anantapur District.

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the year 1994, FIP acknowledged Sri Sathya Nigamagamam as an outstanding structure in concrete using concrete shells with a compression ring to cover the auditorium’s roof. It so happened that in the same Congress the Headquarters Building of L&T’s ECC Division at Manapakkam, Chennai was selected as the most outstanding concrete structure. It is very rare in the world that a construction company from India gets an award when there are competing companies from the US, Europe, Japan and others who normally have the financial capacity to win such awards for large and expensive structures. I sincerely believe that it is Swami’s grace which helped us create and build these structures which would ultimately win international awards for innovative concrete structures designed and built by L&T.

Sri Sathya Sai Airport

This is another example of an incredible job being completed in 3.5 months. The entire runway and terminal building were designed and constructed in a short time for aircraft to land at Puttaparthi. Later on some commercial flights from Mumbai and Chennai were also using this airport. While the runway was under construction our hot mix plant did not function for about ten days and this long period was understandably very critical for a job needing to be completed in three months. Our Resident Engineer used to sit in the

darshan hall to report to Swami about the progress of work and told Him about the predicament of the hot mix plant not functioning. On a particular day Swami told him, “Go back, the plant will start functioning from today” and indeed the plant started working with his own minor attempts at repair and he believes it is a miracle. Thereafter the job was completed in the shortest time. When we took the initial drawings for the terminal building (single-storey, flat-roofed) to Swami, He remarked that the building looked like a headless man and this prompted us to add a dome on the top of the slab and construct the same within the stipulated time. There is no doubt the building looks architecturally more beautiful after the addition of the dome as per Swami’s suggestion.

Yazur Mandir (Swami’s Residence)

Swami was staying in the rooms constructed as a modification of Poorna Chandra Auditorium on the first floor. Subsequently, it was decided from many considerations that the area opposite Poorna Chandra Auditorium should be chosen for a new building to serve as Swami’s residence. Mr. Krishna Singhal and Mr. C. Sreenivas, Brindavan, Bangalore provided lot of inputs and support for the new residence of Swami. Swami surprised me by making me lay the foundation stone and participated in the function so

affectionately. I am extremely happy that this building has come out so well and Swami is currently using this as his residence. Earlier, a darshan hall and a guest house were built near Sai Brindavan, Whitefiled, Bangalore.

Sri Sathya Sai Indoor Stadium

L&T has good experience and reputation in building world-class sports stadia like the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai (40,000-capacity, built in a world record time of 260 days), Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, the twin hockey stadium in Hyderabad, various sports structures in Guwahati for the Asian Games, and a football stadium in Qatar. All these were based on design-and-construct principle and brought good name for L&T. The Company once again won international recognition for the oval-shaped Kanteerava stadium (120 m x 80 m) from the Federation Internationale du Beton. This experience has helped us in the construction of the indoor stadium at the Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthi Nilayam to commemorate 25 years of the University. As a silver jubilee gift to his students, Swami wanted a facility to be put up for indoor games like basket ball, shuttle badminton, table tennis, gymnastics, squash, yoga, etc. and an outdoor facility for tennis. The task of completing such a stadium (120 x 65 m), having no intermediate columns and with all modern amenities, would normally take not less than a year even for a company like L&T. However, this project was completed in less than 5 months and the stadium was inaugurated on Swami’s birthday by the then President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Sri Sathya Sai University, Muddenahalli

For engineers in India Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visweswaraya is an icon. At Muddenahalli, the birth place of this great engineer, Swami gave us an opportunity to build the Prasanthi Tower and a college block in a site adjacent to the existing school. This college was designed to function as part of the Sri Sathya Sai University. The Prasanthi Tower houses a museum to highlight the history of the institution as well as a clock tower on the top of a hill overlooking the picturesque Nandi Hills. It also has a spiral concrete ramp to

take vehicles into the portico of the Tower. This job was also accomplished in a short time of eight months. Subsequently a new management school for girls was also added at Anantapur, constructed in just four months, as part of Sri Sathya Sai University.

Sai Bhaktha Nivas

To facilitate accommodating a large number of Sai devotees, dormitory accommodation under the name of Sai Bhaktha Nivas was designed and built, again in a short span of seven months. All of these blocks, five in number, are three-storied and have bunk beds and each of them can accommodate approximately 900 people. There are facilities like toilets, bath rooms and clothes washing area on all the three floors. The top floor of each block has two halls, 30 m x 12 m in size, with column-free space and can be used for community meetings when required. The roof elements are made of precast concrete hyperbolic paraboloid shells, bringing economy and aesthetics combined with the latest in construction technology.

L&T, as a professional engineering & construction organization, has a long association with many clients, continuing to provide construction services to suit their requirements year after year. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has provided such a unique opportunity to build projects which serve India and meet the social needs of the vast majority of less privileged people as well as devotees of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. L&T could give not only innovative engineering solutions for these projects to be designed and executed in incredibly short periods but also could diversify into new profitable business activities in many fields thereafter. L&T project managers’ skills got improved in the process with a realization that all stakeholders working unitedly with a single purpose can bring in highly satisfying results in terms of quality, economy and time of completion. This proves Swami’s message that divinity will automatically support any project executed with unity and purity.

In the modern management parlance and the theories of management science there is no factor for luck or divine grace for growth or success. Modern science also makes us think that everything is explainable in physical terms; but cannot explain rationally the miracles that we have seen Swami perform. When we experience individually and think deep we understand the rationale behind the various beliefs and faiths and miracles performed by the various Avatars in different ages, supported by the literature of many religious faiths.

In all these years I have been able to visit and provide leadership for scores of L&T projects not only in India but also in other countries in the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, Middle East, Russia and East Africa and found the time and energy because Swami told me and my wife that He would be always with me and there is nothing to worry about my

Sri Sathya Sai International Centre at Delhi, constructed by L&T.

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health. He even predicted and indicated about a job where we would lose money and he protected me from the consequences by enormous success in many other jobs. When we took up for the first time a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) project for investing in and developing the Bangalore International Airport with international partners/shareholders from Germany and Switzerland there was inordinate delay in policy decisions by the State and Central Governments. As this led to disillusionment to our international partners Dr. Fritz Ruess and Dr. Wolfgang Bischoff of Siemens and Mr. Herbert Meier of Zurich Unique Airport. I took them for Swami’s darshan and interview and narrated our predicament. Swami told us that it would take a further three years even though construction will be finished in two years and the project would be a financial success. Subsequently the Airports Authority of India Act was amended in the Indian Parliament and facilitated privatization of big airports in India. These developments made Siemens and Zurich Airport stick with L&T in the consortium. It is not only an enormous success for all of us but also led to “L&T being chosen for turnkey EPC construction of airports at Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai” and making us an expert in a new business of airports, like water earlier.

Board meetings and other important engagements would not clash with my many visits to Puttaparthi, sometimes using the Company aircraft as if some magic was happening. In August 1997, just three days before the convocation of the Andhra University, I came to know that I would be awarded an honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) by the Andhra University at Visakhapatnam. I went to Puttaparthi

in L&T aircraft to take Bhagawan’s blessings and proceeded in the same aircraft to Visakhapatnam just the evening before the convocation. In the meantime I came to know later that cine playback singer and musician of repute Smt. P. Susheela had been chosen for “Kala Prapoorna”, a doctorate in music, by the Andhra University. She was staying at Puttaparthi at that time and told Swami that it was physically not possible for her to reach Visakhapatnam in time for the convocation. However, Swami told her not to worry and that He would send her in time. After I reached Puttaparthi on an unplanned visit, Swami arranged for her to travel with me in the company aircraft to Visakhapatnam. We both received our honorary doctorates in time. Who but God could have taken care of His devotees through such miracles!

L&T as an organization has also experienced extraordinary success and performance beyond reasonable estimates. The twenty-year period from 1990 to 2010, during which we came under Swami’s influence, has also seen such extraordinary growth in ECC Division’s business volume, literally 90 times in annual sales performance, from Rs.280 Cr. to Rs.26,000 Cr. per annum. From a background of constructing buildings and industrial projects, we went into new diversifications including roads, water supply, airports and ports and other infrastructure projects apart from expansion into the international market (especially Middle East) and investment in public-private partnership (PPP) projects for the first time in the country. In the PPP (BOT, etc.) field we gained the experience of investing in and constructing projects very fast and making a success of it. Nearly forty special purpose vehicles

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Left & Top: L&T’s team of Engineers, Administrators and Workmen at the Dormitory Project in Prasanthi Nilayam. Above: Swami presenting a memento to A. Ramakrishna for speedy completion of Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam at Hyderabad during its inaugural function.

(SPVs) were established to design and construct various projects and all of them proved to be a success for L&T as well as our country. I sincerely believe the success of all this has come not only through our strategic planning and business management approaches but also with right ideas emanating from Puttaparthi visits with the grace of God. We should be thankful to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for showering his blessings and telling many of our clients and dignitaries like Presidents and Prime Ministers of India about L&T and creating fantastic goodwill and brand image for us. Our association with the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust in their service to mankind is a unique experience for a modern enterprise like ours. I pray God to bless L&T for continued success and for taking the country to great economic heights by the year 2038, when the Company would be 100 years old, and beyond. May India be a leader in the comity of nations and nations by unifying them for universal peace.

Samastha Loka Sukhino BhavantuOm Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

A. RamakrishnaFormer President and Deputy Managing Director

Larsen & Toubro Limited

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born in a small hamlet called Puttaparthi in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh on November 23, 1926 to Pedda Venkamaraju and Eswaramma. The couple had a son and two daughters, Seshama Raju, Venkamma and Parvathamma. Eswaramma longed for another son and performed the “Sathyanarayana Puja” and kept a number of vows, which were rigorous and needed vigil and abstention from food.

While the child was conceived, strange things happened in the house of Pedda Venkapa Raju. For instance, the ‘Thambura’ would twang on its own, the maddela or drum on the floor would beat rhythmically as if an expert hand was handling it. On 23rd day of November 1926, the son was born at the time of sunrise. The year was ‘Akshaya’, the never declining, ever-full year and the day was a ‘Karthika’. The day was even more auspicious as the ascendant star was Arudra.

The baby was named Sathyanarayana, as Eswaramma believed that it was the result of the ‘puja’ that blessed her with the son. Soon Sathya grew up as a favourite child in the family, school and in the entire village itself, by virtue of certain special characteristics endowed with him. He, in fact, manifested many divine powers and even materialised flowers, sugar candy, vibuthi etc., from nowhere and presented it to members of his family and others assembled around him.

Even as a child, he manifested superhuman powers and demonstrated the virtues of compassion, selfless service, humility and respect for elders. Though he didn’t have schooling beyond standard eight, he displayed unparalleled knowledge of all fields, be it science, spirituality or philosophy. With his powers of omnipresence, he has cured his devotees of incurable diseases and also helped his devotees in several other ways to achieve happiness and well being. Miracles of objects materializing from no-where for the devotees as symbols of his grace and love happen even today.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba...An apostle of love and peace

Through the personal experience of many of the devotees of Sai Baba, who throng Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi, it is believed that Swami has following extraordinary traits:

• Infiniteknowledgeofallsubjects,expressesitself spontaneously

• Anoceanofwisdom–theknowerofthepast, present and the future (he narrates with incredible details events of past, present and future)

• Alwaysgiving-mercifulandeternallybenevolent

• Infinitepatienceandforbearance• Alwayscheerfulandhelpinganyoneand

everyone• Youthfulandradiantbodybelyingthephysical

age of 85• Preserverandprotectorofall• Embodimentofeternaldivinelove• Beyondcomparisonandcomprehension

Serve the poor with love, that alone can redeem you. Service to the poor is service to God. Sacrifice your life for the cause of the poor. Be compassionate and considerate towards the poor. Spend your time, wealth and energy in service of the poor.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

• Beingeverywhereandineverything• Imperceptibleandindependent• Creatorandperformerofmiraclesand

materialisation of almost everything conceivable

• Knowerofallmindsandhearts• Omnipotent,omnipresentandomniscient• Infinitepowerandinfinitebliss• Idealguru/teacher• Powerfulspeakerwithcapacitytoexplain

intricate meta physical aspects with simple examples understood by common people

• Perfectionistineverythinghedoes• Unifierandintegratorofallcastes,creeds

and religions and nationalities

Because of these remarkable characteristics, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has come to be accepted as the ‘Sampurna Avathar’ of our age by his followers.

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One day, on October 14, 1940, after returning from school, Sathya cast his books aside and called out, “I am no longer your Sathya, I am Sai, I am going and I do not belong to you. The ‘maya’ has gone and my ‘bhakthas’ are calling me. Saying, “I have work to do and cannot stay any longer”, he went and sat in a garden. People came into the garden from all directions, carrying flowers and fruits and singing in chorus, the lines that Sathya Sai had taught them. “Maanasa bhajare gurucharanam Dhusthara bhava saagara tharanum” Meaning - “meditate in thy mind on the feet of the guru. That can take you across the difficult sea of samsara” During the next few years, he was crowded with hordes of pilgrims from all parts of the country visiting him. Also devotees began calling him ‘Bhagawan’ Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Cultivate the attitude of oneness between people of all creeds and all continents to establish world peace

The Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi was inaugurated on November 23,1950 on the occasion of Sri Sathya Sal Baba’s 25th birthday. The engineering and design aspects of the building were worked out by Baba himself. The suggestions he gave for the construction proved to be far superior to what the engineers had come up with. They found that Baba had a greater sense of perspective and a better aesthetic point of view. He developed Prasanthi Nilayam brick by brick with awe inspiring and architecturally marvellous structures for meeting the complete needs of his devotees, thronging the place in millions, from all over the world. To take care of the maintenance of these structures as well as to serve the society in matters of health, education and

Prasanthi Nilayam

other welfare measures, he established a Trust called “Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust” with a clear vision and mission of service.

Today, Sri Sathya Sai Organisations have spread all over the globe. And, the followers or devotees of Baba are working with the same zeal and vigour everywhere, spreading the message of ‘universal brotherhood of man’ to one and all. There’s no individual on earth, today who can spearhead a massive movement like this. That’s the Institution Baba has built and that’s “Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust”. A Trust that people really trust, all over the world. Pranams to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

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PuttaparthiPuttaparthi, a hamlet in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, has earned name and fame world-wide due to the presence of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is considered an incarnation of God by a large number of his devotees. Located at a distance of 85 km from Anantapur and 124 km from Bangalore, this religious and sacred place has witnessed the visit of not only top politicians and the ruling elite of India, but also the heads of the states and governments from many countries on special occasions.

Puttaparthi has a legend that strengthens the belief in the divinity of the place and reflects the divine powers of the Baba. The village name is derived from ‘Putta’ which means an ant-hill and ‘Parthy” means a modified form of multiplier. This village was earlier known as Gollapalli or home of cowherds. The cows yielded plenty of milk. Every home made butter and ghee. According to a legend explained by N.Kasturi, author of ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’ a cowherd noticed that one of his cows did not have milk in its udder when it returned home after grazing.

The cow later came out of its shed and reached an ant-hill on the outskirts of the village. The cowherd, who followed the cow, was surprised to see a cobra that started drinking milk of the cow. Annoyed at the loss of milk, the boy lifted a stone and threw it on the cobra. The injured serpent threw a curse on all the ‘gopalas’ of the village and the creature’s last words were that the place will be full of ant-hills and multiplication of the same in endless numbers.

The curse came true and the cattle population in the village declined drastically. They could not be raised successfully in the village any longer. Ant-hills spread all over the place and the village name was changed to Valmikipura for Valmika in Sanskrit means an ant-hill or Puttaparthi in common parlance.

The villagers still show, as a proof of this legend, the same thick and round stone, with a slight jam one side, which the angry cowherd had thrown at the divine snake. The stone

has a long reddish streak over it, which is believed to be the mark of the cobra’s blood. This stone is worshipped as Gopalaswami, the lord as cowherd, probably in an effort to nullify the effect of the curse and improve the cattle population.

It is said that Sri Sathya Sai Baba had directed some people to wash the stone and smear sandal paste on the jammed side. When his instruction was carried out, a clear outline of a picture of Lord Gopalaswami, with the flute at his lips, leaning on a cow, was seen.

Some say that even today they can hear the melody of Lord Krishna’s breath passing through the straight and hollow reed. From that day, the curse has lost its effect and the cattle have begun to flourish at Puttaparthi. Puttaparthi is also believed to be the abode of goddesses – Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Baba gives ‘darshan’ to his devotees at Prasanthi Nilayam, the spacious spiritual centre where ‘Bhajans’ and religious discourses are regularly held.

A museum on a nearby hillock at Puttaparthi displays the models of various temple structures, including the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Holy Mecca Masjid, etc. “Service to humanity is service to divinity’ is the basic concept that guides and runs the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Trust. This world famous place is about 8 km from Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi railway station and is well connected by road.

Spiritual progress is right living, good conduct, moral behavior.

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Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust... Extending beyond boundaries, caste and creed

To carry out the mission of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and to manage the complete activities at Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi and Brindavan in Bangalore, a Trust has been formed in the name and style of “Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust”. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the founder trustee himself, founded this in 1972 and this is the main executing agency for all his works.

“Service to man is service to God’, ‘Hands that help are holier than lips that pray’, and ‘Love All and Serve All’ are the watchwords of this charitable organisation. It functions with the help of unsolicited contributions received from devotees all over the world. More than one lakh persons are working for the trust on voluntary basis

and more than 10,000 persons are paid employees in various institutions run by the Trust. This apart, there are over 30,000 Sathya Sai centers spread over 200 countries. With over 150 centers in USA and 70 centers in Canada, Sathya Sai Centers all over the world expresses itself through three wings: Spiritual, Educational and Service, and work tirelessly for uplifting humanity in all these three spheres.

The activities of the Trust have been growing from year to year, and have covered the basic necessities of education, health and drinking water. With over 50 years of continuous growth, the organisation as an entity has developed major strengths in terms and capacity and capability to build, develop and run a variety of large institutions and activities.

The institutions are characterised by timely and successful completion of projects and programmes:

• SriSathyaSaiRuralService&EducationProgramme• SriSathyaSaiEducationProgramme• SriSathyaSaiYouthProgramme• SriSathyaSaiDrinkingWaterProgramme• SriSathyaSai‘HealthforAll’Programme• SriSathyaSai–‘Balavikas’Programme

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Prasanthi Nilayam – meaning `abode of peace` is a spiritual and educational centre of international repute in Puttaparthi, a remote village in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh. Puttaparthi is the birthplace of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is one of the world`s most revered spiritual masters today.

Once a small and insignificant village, Puttaparthi has emerged as a place of international repute, thanks to Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Though, the population of this village is estimated to be around 8-10 thousand people, millions of devotees and visitors not only from India, but from all over the world flock to Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi to see, worship as well as seek solace, advice and blessings from Sai Baba not only in spiritual but also in temporal matters. His teachings are universal and not sectarian. Devotees, seekers and adherents of all faiths and religions from different countries find their way to Prasanthi Nilayam to have his darshan (divine sight with blessings). People searching for God in many parts of the world find in him the object and fulfillment of their search.

Where there is FAITH, there is LOVE; Where there is LOVE; there is PEACE; Where there is PEACE; there is GOD; Where there is GOD; there is BLISS.

Prasanthi Nilayam...The Abode of Peace

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The entire complex of Prasanthi Nilayam is ideally located close to natural hilly surroundings. An aesthetic atmosphere prevails in the complex. A deer sanctuary reflects the community’s concern for the environment. Prasanthi Nilayam welcomes all visitors - rural folk, urban executives and the international crowd. They are greeted by an electrifying array of ancient and modern architecture with proximity to all service facilities within the complex. VVIPs and state guests are accommodated in beautiful bungalows with ultra-modern facilities including high-level surveillance and security.

Life is a challenge, meet it!Life is a dream, realise it!Life is a game, play it!Life is Love, enjoy it!

Once a small and insignificant village, Puttaparthi has emerged as a place of international repute, thanks to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Pictures gives a panoramic view of Prasanthi Nilayam and the magnificent Gopurams that decorate the landscape and the skyline.

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Temples, ashrams and darshan / prayer halls – an attraction all the more exciting for the absence of even the slightest noise, sound or whisper. A school and university conducive to higher learning in all spheres of arts, science and humanities; a large open playground with galleries; an artificial fountain that spills a beautiful cascade of water in natural form down the hill, are a feast to the eye. An imposing giant statue of Sri Hanuman on the hill arrests the attention of all visitors even from a long distance. In addition, consumer stores and shopping complexes, canteen facilities cater to national, continental and inter-continental visitors, bookstalls and library, general hospital blocks and dispensaries, a music college, kalyanamandapams (marriage halls) – all connected by well-knit and clean roads within the complex present the visitors a high quality of life and lend the complex an the aura of a great city within a small village.

Bottom: Millions of devotees arrive at Prasanthi Nilayam everyday to behold the Baghwan and seek His blessings. Right: The grand entrance arch to the town of Puttaparthi. Extreme right: Gopuram – the gateway to Prasanthi Nilayam Complex. Bottom right: Lord Ganesha Temple at the entrance of the complex.

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Facilities like banks, post office, police station, bus terminus, hotels, planetarium, telephone booths, ATMs, internet café’s, markets are located outside the Prasanthi Nilayam, catering to the commercial needs of the visitors. In simple terms, Prasanthi Nilayam is referred to by many as a paradise of God, for many devotees are able to see and talk to Bhagawan face to face and get his blessings.

‘Seva Dal’ - Volunteers of Baba, clad in pure white, drawn from all walks of life irrespective of caste, creed, religion or status, manage the day-to-day affairs of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. Well-drawn-out spiritual programmes like chanting of the sacred syllable “OM”, Pradakshina, Suprabhatham, Singing of bhajans, Darshan of Baba and interviews as per schedules in the morning and evening are conducted everyday. Those who have participated in these activities have found them scintillating and pleasant. People who attend these regularly are said to achieve a well-balanced mind and sublimity in life.

Different views of Sai Sree Nivas – the VIP Guest House at Prasanthi Nilayam.

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It is also gratifying to note that during performance of the above spiritual exercises, everyone adheres to and maintains a high sense of discipline, orderliness, cleanliness and silence to give the body and mind its due importance.

The rules laid down by the Trust are strictly followed and maintained by the devotees. On the contrary, irrespective of one’s status many devotees voluntarily carry out without the least hesitation, even menial jobs like cleaning the toilets and streets – all in the name of God. It is here that all people see God alike and that is the principal objective of Bhagawan Baba’s Mission.

According to him righteousness in this world is based on the four moral pillars – “Satya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema” (Truth, Right, Conduct, Peace and Love). He said, “ All men are of one lineage, of divine origin. Therefore, recognise the divinity in each being and banish all limiting thoughts and projections”. He has further declared:

• ThereisonlyONEcaste,thecasteofhumanity• ThereisonlyONEreligion,thereligionofLove• ThereisonlyONElanguage,thelanguageoftheheart• ThereisonlyONEGod,andHeisomnipresent

The universal character of Bhagawan Baba’s mission can be seen reflected in many places in the complex with symbols, sculptures and statues of the founders of the principal religions of the world.

Top: Boys’ School - part of Sri Sathya Sai University.The colourful dome of the Planetarium and Space Centre (Extreme right) and the school building (Right) which adopt a classical style.

Bhagawan Baba’s emphasis in recent years has been on education, health (physical, mental and social) and rural development for improving the quality of life of the poor and weaker sections of the society.

Young and old, destitute women and top class retired officials from the Government / Private organisations throng the Prasanthi Nilayam premises to offer various services in the name of God for the spiritual, physical and social upliftment of the humanity as a whole, without expecting anything in return. Indeed, one can lead an austere, unpolluted life in a congenial atmosphere, uphold all values and pursue a systematic way of life with exalted spiritual ideas and tranquility in Prasanthi Nilayam – for it is really an abode of peace.

Start the day with Love,Fill the day with Love,Spend the day with Love,End the day with Love.This is the way to God.

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Structures and facilities inside the Prasanthi Nilayam Complex (Clockwise from top)Western CanteenYazur Mandir – Swami’s residenceLibrary buildingIT buildingThe Book Trust Building

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You must welcome tests because it gives you confidence and it ensures promotion.

Top: Overall view of Prasanthi Nilayam Complex as seen from the Kalpakavriksha.Bottom: The abodes for devotees follow a simplistic design.

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The Engineering Construction and Contracts division (ECC) of Larsen & Toubro Limited has been playing a vital role in executing many of the critical projects of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. Through total commitment in its endeavours, ECC has been meeting the ambitious plans and programmes of the Trust. Ever since it stepped into Prasanthi Nilayam in April 1990, when it was entrusted with the construction of 240 ‘Community flats’, ECC has made a significant contribution to Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, at Puttaparthi, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Bangalore.

Through timely execution of projects with speed and uncompromising quality, ECC has been able to contribute to some of the most outstanding and award winning projects, for Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, under the unique guidance of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba himself. In the process, ECC had the privilege of experiencing certain aspects of project management and construction management, which can be followed in other projects.

The super speciality hospital at Puttaparthi (named Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences) came up in an unbelievably short time. In just eight months, the hospital moved from commencement of construction to conducting cardiac operations! Wonder-struck, people started asking how it was possible that a magnificent hospital with so many modern facilities and services could be completed in such a short time and at such low cost. The answer simply lies in the Swamiji`s unique style of project execution.

All things in creation are subject to the law of change, and man, too, is subject to this law.

(Clockwise from top)Lord GaneshaLotus StupaThe brass antique of the lion andNataraja – the dancing Shiva, characteristic of Hindu mythology are on display at most of the building entrances.

Swami’s Style of Project Management...Unity, Purity, Divinity (UPD) approach to construction

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In fact, in most cases a new project is announced by Swami on a particular birthday. Almost invariably, the project is inaugurated on his next birthday or earlier on a festive occasion. This brings in a sense of wonder even among professionals. Before L&T got involved in Sri Sathya Sai projects, it had the reputation of constructing and completing projects at a fast pace, comparable to internationally accepted targets. While L&T might have achieved wonders by completing projects fast elsewhere, in the case of Sri Sathya Sai projects Swami seemed to have performed miracles through L&T. A few highlights are given below to bring out the essential reasons which contribute to making Sri Sathya Sai projects far better in all aspects - architecture, engineering & design, contract settlement, agency selection, quality control, cost control, project management and monitoring, time of completion. Not the least of these positive factors is the commitment of people involved in the project and the general happiness and satisfaction that prevails at the end of the project. It is hoped that this would provide pointers for similar projects elsewhere in the country.

Architecture

In all the projects which Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has taken up, he gives prime importance to aesthetics and architecture right from the beginning as well as through the construction phase. Quite often, He asks specialist architects or a company like L&T to prepare drawings and a perspective view or a model. He then suggests modifications which the architect could incorporate. In many cases the hints given by Swami help shape the building to be quite different and aesthetically pleasing, compared to similar projects conceived by others. He has quite often commented that a flat roof structure is like a headless man and always introduced either a dome or some feature including sthapati work and ornamentation work to make the building come alive and inspiring to those who work on the project or live in the building. People may wonder whether he insists on vaastu shastra as per tradition. To our surprise he has never insisted on vaastu shastra even though he has commended it as appropriate for the time for which it was conceived and the basic concepts are no different even today. But he has always given importance to functionality, simplicity and use of modern sciences without any dogmatic approach to vaastu shastra or other practices as in some parts of the country.

Small minds select narrow roads; expand your mental vision and take to the broad road of helpfulness, compassion and service.

Architecture of buildings abound with an array domes, pyramids and gopurams.

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Engineering & Design

Here again economy in use of materials and knowledge of modern techniques are given importance. Swami has always made sure that the architecture and engineering design go hand-in-hand and there are no conflicts in realising the ultimate goal of an outstanding building. Through the experience of our many engineers associated with Sri Sathya Sai projects, it is a wonder that He used to point out certain technical aspects which have to be taken note of or details modified at the appropriate time even to those experts who might miss such important points. This also confirms the belief of his followers that his knowledge of science is extraordinary, unfathomable and unbelievable.

Estimates

When the design and engineering are approved in principle, an estimate is prepared in such a way that the total cost of the project is much lower than conventionally accepted thumb rule estimates. These are reviewed in great detail by some of his followers who are in the Trust who give an independent opinion on how the costs can be further reduced or controlled. These inputs ultimately are taken by the agency to bring in maximum economy in terms of cost of materials, labour, construction methods and thus the whole project cost. In this effort the persons in the Trust are able to talk to suppliers of major materials and are able to get concessional price or sometimes even free supply of materials. Efforts are made to get necessary approvals quickly from the Government to save levies like excise duty, sales tax, etc. All these efforts are made in a very short time that the benchmark lowest price is achieved right in the beginning to enable monitoring and control of the final total project cost.

Domes of varying styles and proportions culminate in beautiful pinnacles.

Every experience that is drawn through any of the senses has an effect on one’s health.

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Selecting the Agencies for Construction

In the Government or even in big corporations, agencies are selected primarily based on initial low bid and not the lifetime total cost involved in the project to be put up. The process involved in such tenders, especially in the Government, is so long that precious time is lost and in the meantime due to inflation the prices go up and the ultimate cost of the project is nowhere near the initial estimates. This is totally avoided in the case of Sri Sathya Sai projects by selecting the right agency on the basis of past experience and the requirement and entrusting the job to that agency, which has shown commitment to perform in short time against odds. After this a genuine effort is made to cut down costs as much as possible without sacrificing either quality or time.

In the light of service nature of jobs taken up for the general good, the purity of the purpose involved there is an automatic interest in all the agencies concerned to give the lowest prices possible. While the contract is settled on this basis, the trust keeps enough leeway to make changes and adjust the overall project cost from considerations of economy and any changes that may come about in detailed project design. Entrusting the work to a single agency with overall responsibility ensures there is unity of purpose and commitment to complete the job within the time and cost without sacrificing quality.

The examples in the following pages highlight some of the aspects of project management, which ultimately resulted in high quality buildings and projects which won international awards and all round acclaim as they all represent high aesthetics, unbelievably low cost and absolutely short time of completion. There are many instances where critical hurdles, which would normally have been intractable, were swept away as though by a divine hand. Essentially, as Swami himself described, it is the unity, purity and divinity which help projects move rapidly from concept to reality . And that is exactly the experience of L&T.

Your thoughts, words, and deeds will shape others and theirs will shape you.

The Chaitanya Jyothi – a fusion of many cultures and architectural styles.

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Clockwise from left: The architecture of a new building project is being explained to Swami. The Stupa in front of Chaitanya Jyothi showing the delicate filigree work. Statues of Buddha, Zoraster, Jesus Christ and a Mosque on display inside Chaitanya Jyothi.

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ECC, the Construction Division of L&T undertakes design and construction of housing projects such as high-rise apartments, townships and system housing using mass production techniques. The company employs innovative system formwork techniques and mechanized construction methods to achieve high quality and speed. Proven techniques employed include large area wall panel forms, tunnel forms and slipform technique of continuous construction for cores high-rise buildings. Using these mechanized methods, L&T builds the reinforced walls and floor slabs in a continuous pour of concrete. All these techniques, while reducing construction time frames and cost, enables mass production of flats.

Anticipating a mass influx of devotees during the 65th birthday celebrations of Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in 1990, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust at Prashanthi Nilayam decided to build 240 community flats or pilgrim quarters for accommodating the high profile visitors, mostly from foreign countries. But, very short span of time was available to meet the deadline of November 23, 1990. And L&T was pressed in to service to carry out this noble task. L&T with the leadership of A. Ramakrishna took up the challenge and with the grace and blessings of Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, completed the task ahead of schedule and handed over the project for other agencies to implement the mechanical, electrical and plumbing works.

What came as a small contract, this blossomed in to several repeat orders subsequently and over a period of time L&T designed and built more than 1000

dwelling units at Prashanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi for Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, adopting the innovativeL&T large area wall panel forms.

The external façade walls are made of 200 mm thick concrete hollow blocks and the internal partition walls are of 100 mm thick concrete hollow blocks. Cupboards, sunshades and water tanks are of cast-in-situ concrete construction. The door and window frames were fixed after concreting was completed by way of providing openings in the formwork at predetermined locations.

192 community flats, each of 450 sq.ft area was built in 183 days, using the L&T-Doka large area formwork system. The design and construction of these 192 flats was entrusted to ECC in April 1990. This consisted of six blocks of four storyed (ground + three) structures each having 32 flats. On seeing the speed with which progress was made, construction of additional 48 flats was entrusted. Altogether ECC built 8 blocks of 240 flats at Prasanthi Nilayam in the first phase. Out of these 240 flats, ECC handed over 192 to the Trust within a period of six months for occupation by the devotees during the 65th birthday celebrations of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in November 1990. Work on the balance 48 flats, which started in September 1990, was completed in December 1990.

With the help of L&T – Doka formwork systems 130 mm thick reinforced concrete walls were cast in the first stage by employing the large wall panel forms and slabs over walls in the second stage by using the Flex system. Cranes were used for lifting and placing as well

A section of the typical multi-storied pilgrim quarters.

Dwellings for the devotees

Perspectives of Divine Construction

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as removing and shifting the wall formwork panels. ECC also co-ordinated the execution of all services like electrical installations, sanitary, plumbing works. Apart from the speed and quality achieved, the cost of flats ranged from Rs.350 to 425 per sq.ft. In all, ECC built around 1000 flats at Prasanthi Nilayam, in Puttaparthi. In the second and third stage alone 679 flats were built in 7 blocks, each consisting of 97 units. Unlike in the first stage, each flat had an area of 420 sq.ft.The community flats, in two blocks, are constructed using tunnel form technology with RC walls and slabs. One block consists of twenty numbers of each 52.50 sq.m dormitories in ground and first floor and fifty numbers of each 26.50 Sqm rooms in second and third floor. The second block consists of ninety flats, each having an area of 26.50 sq.m rooms. Every dormitory and room is provided with attached toilet apart from common toilets in the ground and first floors. The total built up area of each block is 3252 sq.m.

The structural system consists of 135mm thick RC load-bearing walls with RC slabs spanning between the RC walls.

The façade walls are 150mm thick in solid block work. The internal partition walls are 100mm thick in solid block work. The RC walls and 150mm thick solid block walls are supported on continuous strip/wall footings.

The walls and the slabs are built using Heated Tunnel form system in which the main walls and the slab were cast together and cured by passing steam at requisite temperature to enable concrete to attain sufficient strength within 24 hours.

The flooring is finished with mosaic tiles. The interior surfaces and ceiling are painted over 1mm thick Plaster of Paris putty. The exterior surface is painted with waterproof cement paint.

These were constructed within a period of 6 months. These elegant flats cost around Rs.485 per sq.ft indicating its suitability for mass housing in urban areas of India.

Different views of the pilgrim quarters with tree lined avenues and other amenities.

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Devotees are accommodated in these homely dwelling units.

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I can’t forget the single most cherished moment when I first came into direct contact with Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

L&T had always been very supportive in the works of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and rose to the occasion, especially when it came to meeting the tight deadlines for project completion.

Mr. C. Sreenivas, Bengaluru

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An imposing 65-ft giant statue of Sri Hanuman specially designed and built on the hill (to mark Baba’s 65th birthday) arrests the attention of all visitors to Puttaparthi. No one can miss it, because it is built at an elevation of approximately 150 ft high on a hill. Everybody can see it even from a long distance.

Installed on a 6-ft concrete pedestal Sri Hanuman, comes alive with his ‘ready-to-take-off pose’, holding the Sanjeevi hill on his left hand palm and gadha held resting on his right shoulder, and his head with the crown held high, beaming an air of confidence and hope.

The body of Sri Hanuman is made out of composite steel and concrete construction. Apart from the structural design and construction, ECC also carried out the electrical installation works associated with it.

Artificial waterfallAs Prasanthi Nilayam is located on a hilly surrounding and devoid of a waterfall, the trustees of Sai Baba decided to create an artificial cascade. The foot of Sri Hanuman was chosen as an apt site for the origin of the waterfall. ECC executed the design, supply and commissioning of the artificial waterfall. For this purpose, ECC constructed a 30 cu.m water tank with pump house at the foot of the hill. From this tank, water is pumped 32m high to the foot of the Hanuman statue and supplied through six spray nozzles, spreading it over a width of 12m. With the help of two artificial spillways at different levels, a smooth sheet of water cascades down the hill like a real waterfall. The spilled water is collected at the bottom storage tank and re-circulated to the spillway.

Hanuman Statue... Signifying strength and valour

The 65 feet tall imposing statue of Lord Sri Hanuman. Perched on a 150 feet high hill, this statue was built on the occasion of Swami’s 65th birthday in 1990.

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Sri Sathya Sai Airport ... Welcoming the guests with warmthPuttaparthi finds a place on the airline map of India ever since the Sri Sathya Sai Airport was pressed into service on November 24, 1990. ECC built this 1000m long, 23-m wide airstrip within an amazing time of 90 days. It was a breakthrough by any standards. The work involved site grading, excavation and construction of runway including a terminal building. This was subsequently extended to receive Airbus A320 aircrafts.

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L&T has been associated earlier with Sri Sathya Sai Airport project in 1990-93 much before I joined and now they are supervising the runway resurfacing work.

As a consultant at present for Sri Sathya Sai Airport resurfacing work, L&T has been a thorough professional Company with prompt advice and follow up and have a dedicated team of professionals to execute the work.

Capt. M.S. Sharma, Director, Sri Sathya Sai Airport, Puttaparthi

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South Indian Food Canteen

The two-storied canteen caters to 2000 people at a time. It covers a total built- up area of 2000 sq.m. A central kitchen caters to all four dining halls and each of the four dining hall caters to 500 people. It houses a kitchen which ideally located for easy articulation. The building was built and occupied within a matter of 5 months. The building meets all the culinary needs of the devotees.

North Indian Food Canteen

Consisting of two octagonal dining halls, the kitchen is located at the rear of the building. The canteen caters to 500 people, 250 people in each hall. Two decorative helical stairways lead to the first floor conference halls. The total built-up area of the building is 3000 sq.m. This building caters to the tastes of all North Indians.

Meeting the culinary needs of everyone

Clockwise from right: Circular staircase. North and South Indian Canteen. Inset : The Western Canteen.

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Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, founded by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, was inaugurated on November 22, 1981. It is an autonomous body accredited to and recognised as a Deemed University by the Government of India and University Grants Commission. Since April 1986, it has been a regular member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

The Institute is a non-profit independent organisation, having different campuses at separate locations. Its two campuses for men are at Prasanthi Nilayam in Andhra Pradesh, and at Brindavan near Whitefield railway station at Bangalore in Karnataka. The third campus, for women, is located at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.

The Institute believes in spontaneous national integration and hence has an open admission policy purely based on merit, encouraging enrollment of boys and girls irrespective of income, class, creed, religion or region. At present over sixty percent of its students are from places other than Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Boys hostel is a three-storeyed structure (ground + two) having a total built-up area of 4520 sq.m. This consists of 64 rooms each having an area of 22 sq.m including a large prayer hall, dining and kitchen facilities, meant for students studying in the institutions there.

Boys’ Hostel... Building trust and character

Boys Hostel provides accommodation for students studying in different schools and colleges (Sri Sathya Sai University) at Prasanthi Nilayam.

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Hill View Stadium...For entertainment and enlightenment

Vidyagiri stadium or hill-view stadium as it is known is located on a 9-acre land and is meant for annual sports meet by students of the University. Functions of general nature and events do take place here. This playground has an international quality cricket pitch and it is important to note that India 11 played an international one-day benefit cricket match here. To start with, this ground had a main stage (380 sq.m) with two pavilions one each for ladies and gents (150 sq.m). Since this has limitations of space, an L-shaped gallery was built on one side of the ground to provide seating for 8000 people in ten tiers. An additional 325 sq.m was added to the pavilion as a part of the green room facilities for the players. This apart, there is a natural hill view area where 2000 people can sit and watch the games and other cultural events.

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Vidyagiri Stadium with open gallery Bottom right: VIP Gallery Extreme bottom: Special pavilions for ladies and gents with green room facilities. Bottom Left: Entrance arch.

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Sai Kulwant Hall... For transcending the mind

The intricately decorated center stage of Sai Kulwant Hall.68

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A large darshan hall was built in phases in front of the mandir for the devotees to have Baba’s Divya darshan. The hall - ‘Sai Kulwanth Hall’ - has a structural system made of reinforced concrete grid floor supported on columns for larger spans around 20 m. to give a clear view of Swami to devotees. An eye-catching polycarbonate skylight roof (300 sq.m) is provided at the center of the hall. Covering an area of 8825 sq.m, the hall accommodates 20,000 devotees at a time. This roof is electrically operated and part of it can be opened to let in fresh air.

An excellent Greek arch adorns the entrance to the darshan hall. The arch formed as a lotus petal blesses devotees entering into the darshan hall. All columns are cladded with natural granite and the ceilings are covered with decorative gold foil. This shelter is an abode of architectural and structural design providing a serene setting for a good inspirational darshan.

I was associated with L&T during the construction of Sai Kulwant Hall, Sathya Sai International Centre, New Delhi, and MBA Girls College, Anantapur. To me L&T means Good quality of work done on time; fully reliable. Especially the way Sai Kulwant Hall turned out to be.

Mr. Vinay Rai, President, Rai Foundation

Clockwise from top left: Electrically operated polycarbonate skylight roof, which can be opened to let in fresh air. The entrance arch to Sai Kulwant Hall, decorated with lotus petal shaped capital. Interior view of the 20,000 seat capacity Sai Kulwant Hall with its magnificent and rich decoarative work.

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Originally a C-shaped two-storeyed shopping centre was satisfying the day-to-day needs of the devotees. The building consisted of a variety of shops. The total built-up area was 3000 sq.ft. This building operated for limited hours during the morning and evening. Due to the increase in devotees, the Shopping Centre was unable to fulfill the needs of the devotees to the fullest extent, therefore the need for a new shopping complex was felt.

New Shopping Complex

The New Shopping Complex is a large three-storeyed structure built in an area of 100 feet X 100 feet. A central atrium illuminates the internal areas, and all modern-day facilities are offered to the shoppers. The decorative slope roof top enhances the beauty of the building. Having an area of 3000 sq.m, this building is thrice the size of the old shopping centre (approximately 30,000 sq.ft).

Shopping Centre...Where you can shop till you drop

The uniquely designed columns give a characteristic feel to the Centre thereby giving the shoppers a great experience.

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The Book Trust building – an architectural delight and a treasure house of knowledge.

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Book Trust Building...The treasure house of knowledge

The Book Trust Building is known as Sanathana Sarathi Book and Publication Building. The structure is interestingly multi-level and is built as per the natural ground profile of the hilly terrain. Different areas have been segregated and earmarked in different levels for the Trust’s use. This building primarily contains bookstalls, Trust office areas and a library. The library is located in the uppermost level called ‘silent zone’. It has an excellent outdoor terrace area for ‘Sayankhaal Adhyayan’.

This building consists of 2500 sq.m. area. To reach the various levels, a smooth decorative ramp has been created on either side of the building. This architectural creation merges with the natural environment and speaks for itself about its unique nature.

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The unique architectural creation merges with the natural environs and ground profile. Right: Entrance porch and different views of the interiors.

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The Museum

The Museum, housing musical instruments used across past centuries to the modern era, is a building encapsulated by a roof shaped in the form of a cymbal (‘Thaalam’). The building portrays its function with its appearance and form complemented by the 40m diameter 9.7m rise cymbal-shaped dome as roof, with a mini dome over it symbolizing the handle of the cymbal. Trumpets on either side of the entrance portico welcome visitors with their awesome form. Each of these is supported on a Veena and a Guitar (as columns) encompassing the harmony of the instruments.

Not just an exhibition of musical instruments, but a music college, which turns out students in classical singing and classical instruments. Clockwise from top: Entrance view of Music College. Cymbal shaped concrete dome of the music college. Staircase inside the tabla shaped structure. The school of dance and music.

Music College... Nurturing classical singers, musicians and artists

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On either side of the building, 9.9m diameter Tabla shaped structure as stair room renders the completeness of an Indian Orchestra. The building as a whole reverberates the message of peace and harmony with well balanced and planned interconnection of the ‘instruments’. The roof (cymbal-shaped) of the main building is a 40m dia column- free reinforced concrete shell structure with double curvature in varying thickness of 270mm at the spring and 175mm at the crown. The roof springs from a tension ring beam supported on 22 columns founded on isolated footings. The stair room (tabla shaped) is a reinforced concrete shell structure with vertical ribs at 3.5m centres along the periphery. The flights of the staircase are saw tooth, without waist slab.

The flooring in the building is a combination of marble and granite. The interior surface and the ceiling are painted with plastic emulsion paint. The exterior surface is painted with waterproof cement paint. The built up area of the building is 3025 sq.m.

The tabla shaped structure on two sides, houses the staircase.Also seen a flute like feature incorporated on the parapet wall. Bottom left and right: Inside views – the open court at the center.

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The school of dance and music with a built-up area of 3820 sq.m stands adjacent to the museum.

The building has a rectangular block, in the front, housing the Administrative office in the ground floor and the School of Music in the first and second floors. The rear side circular block housing the School of Dance has aesthetically designed stage and is in double height with open court at centre to seat the audience. The flooring in the building is a combination of granite and ceramic tile. The interior surface and the ceiling are painted with oil bound washable distemper. The exterior surface is painted with waterproof cement paint in traditional colours.

School of Dance and Music

The end of knowledge is love.The end of culture is perfection.The end of wisdom is freedom.

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Selfless service to the needy is the highest spiritual discipline. Do not use poisonous words against anyone, for words wound more fatally than even arrows. What you would desire others to do for you, you should do for others. You should respect others, as you want to be respected by them.

This building has been built and donated to the public by Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi for conducting marriages and wedding receptions. The hall has a seating capacity of 300 people. The total built-up area, including kitchen and dining facilities, is about 750 sq.m. Decorative sthapathi work has been done to enhance the aesthetics of the building.

Sri Pedda Venkamaraju Kalyana Mandapam

Named after Swami’s father, the Kalyana Mandapam is used for conducting weddings and receptions.

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Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh with a population of 6.3 million and an area of 260 sq.km has been described as “Panchavani Sangam,’ a place where five linguistic and cultural streams meet. Here Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil and Urdu have mingled and enriched a city famous for its “Nawabf graciousness”. In this beautiful capital city and surrounding cities ECC has created several monuments of excellence.

Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam

The Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam, a modern Kalyanamandapam (marriage hall) cum multipurpose auditorium for Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Puttaparthi bears the ECC stamp. The architecture, design and construction was entrusted to L&T ECC which engaged Mr.R. Chakrapani as the consulting architect for the project who shaped the suggestions of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba into a concrete reality. Work commenced in August 1991. It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao on August 29, 1992.

The auditorium and balcony, arranged in an octagonal shape, has a seating capacity of 1,500 around a stage. An interesting design feature of the auditorium roof is that it consists of an octagonal concrete compression ring having a height of 3 m rising to a height of 16.5 m above the auditorium floor level and connected with sixteen concrete beams spanning between columns/circumferential beams and compression ring. An octogonal dome and 16 upper curved shells form the roof of the auditorium. Sixteen lower curved shells form the balcony roof. The dining hall roof consists of an interesting grid slab pattern of radial beams and intermediate circumferential beams.

Enriching the Monumental Beauty of Hyderabad

Front view of the spectacular ‘Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam’ (Kalyana Mandapam), which won the FIP Award for the Most Outstanding Concrete Structure - 1994 at the Washington Congress. Right: Inside view of the auditorium. Extreme right: Grand entrance lobby showing the columns and waffles.

I was involved with the architecture of Sri Sathya Nigamagamam, Hyderabad including a host of other structures in Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi.

My association with L&T also extends beyond 30 years. The principal strength of L&T is taking up challenges and carrying out tasks that are “impossible”. The speed and quality of L&T work has been excellent and has culminated in many Landmark and Iconic Structures. The engineering and construction teams have high professional efficiency, unparalleled in the industry.

L&T has been the nodal force in transforming the designs into reality in record time and quality using pioneering systems and innovation. This contribution from L&T was the underlying factor for Bhagawan’s extended confidence in this team.

The highlight of this association for me was when Bhagawan personally performed the wedding of my son Ar. C. Vijay Ram with Ar. Priya Ram in His chamber.

Mr. R. Chakrapani, R. Chakrapani & Sons (Architects & Engineers)

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Construction of the auditorium was very complex. The site being located on a rocky terrain, L&T had to resort to heating of rock using firewood for excavation without disturbing the adjacent structures. L&T also resorted to single hole drill blast at a time for rock excavation. A central acrow tower and sixteen radial beam towers were simultaneously erected for stability. Concreting was completed in sequence, taking up compression ring, radial beams and curved shells one after another. The whole staging was deshuttered only after completion of sixteen shells. The air volume covered within the auditorium/balcony was 1.5 lakh cu.ft which was an achievement in itself.

ECC’s contract also involved plumbing, sanitary, electrical and air-cooling works. The multipurpose auditorium consists of centrally air-cooled dining hall, auditorium and balconies. The main auditorium has an annexe block consisting of kitchen, marriage party rooms and green rooms, plant room and electrical sub-station buildings to cater to air-cooling and power requirement of the auditorium.

The quantum of work involved 3,000 cu.m of excavation (soft rock/hard rock), 5,000 cu.m of concreting, 18,000 sq.m of shuttering, 310 t of reinforcement steel, 1,200 cu.m of brick work, 21,000 sq.m of painting, 5,000 sq.m of ceramic tiles and 2,000 sq.m of marble flooring/cladding.

Sri Sathya Sai Auditorium, apart from its functional aspect has also transformed into a tourist attraction owing to its fascinating architecture. It has been placed on the list of important places to be visited in Hyderabad along with Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Falaknuma Palace and Salarjung Museum. Another facet of importance is that Sri Sathya Sai Auditorium was accorded a special mention for its engineering excellence by FIP – Federation Internationale de la Precontrainte, an international organisation for the development of structural concrete, based in London, UK.

I have been associated with Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam, Hyderabad, for the past 18 years. It gives me pleasure to place on record the excellence of the buildings constructed by L&T. Architecturally the buildings of Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam constitute an excellent blend of architecture and modernity.

Justice Y.V. Anjaneyulu, Former Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court and Member, Law Commission of India, New Delhi

Interior view of the octagonal shape auditorium showing the seating, balcony, radial beams of the roof shells and the compression ring in the center.

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Chaitanya Jyothi... Redefining the design and construction experience

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The magnificent Chaitanya Jyothi with its rapturous design and outstanding construction features.

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This building was constructed to commemorate the 75th Birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and houses an exhibition on His Life and Mission. The location was selected keeping in view the ambience and grandeur of the structure. A level site of 65m frontage and 60m depth and 4m above road level had to be created out of a sloping hillside. This entailed 3 to 4m of filling to an extant of one third portion and about 5000 cu.m of rock removal on the remaining portion. The building is 23m high, with a covered area of about 6000 sq.m. The apex of the roof is 27m high from the road level.

The architect, Mr. Goh Say Tong of Malaysia, designed a unique structure with a fusion of many cultures and architectural styles. A roof similar to a Chinese Emperor’s Palace, flanked by two Moorish domes made of titanium, crowning semicircular ends adorned with Gothic arches, are the main features. The two lift shafts have Japanese style roofs and there is K0I fish pool in front, designed by a specialist from Singapore. The stone balustrades and the stupa in front came from China. Incidentally, this is the biggest Chinese roof outside mainland China.

The fusion of Chinese architectural style lends grandeur to the beautiful Chaitanya Jyothi.

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The excavation which started on 16th November, 1999 was completed in April 2000, because this involved hard rock profiles. In order to accelerate the progress, a rock breaker was employed. It was withdrawn a month later being unable to break the hard granite strata underlying the top layer. Permission was then given for controlled blasting, which commenced on 3rd February 2000 and went upto 20th April 2000. Because of stringent time schedules, the structural construction did not proceed in the normal way but commenced wherever site clearance was made available. Thus on the right hand side the columns and slabs were raised up to the roof level, leaving dowels. All levels were tackled simultaneously and the whole building was constructed proceeding sideways from right to left. This radical departure from normal construction sequence was adopted, in order to meet stringent time frames and to make the building functional.

Right: The intricate and colourful filigree work on the ceilings and stone ballustrades. Extreme Right: Sloping roof with Chinese architectural elements and decorative features.

I was involved with construction Sri Sai Srinivasa Guest House, Prashanthi Nilayam and Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty Hospitals both in Puttaparthi & Whitefield including Sri Sathya Sai Convention Centre at Whitefield.

In my opinion, L&T is competent to take up and complete major works to the entire satisfaction of the clients. The Sri Sathya Sai Convention Centre – Whitefield is a unique structure which involved advanced technical excellence both in structural and civil engineering.

Mr. D.K.Audikesavulu, Former Member of Parliament and Chairman, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.

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Yet another innovation includes anchoring the reinforcement bars of columns directly into the hard granite rock wherever such rock was encountered. M-30 grade concrete was used for all structural members. For intermediate slabs and heavily reinforced beams, w/c ratio of 0.38 was adopted using FOSROC Conplast SP 337 superplasticiser. For all slabs open to sky and the Chinese roof slab, w/c ratio of 0.36 with maximum superplasticiser dosing was adopted. Joints in slabs were kept to a bare minimum and wherever joints had to be provided, epoxy based bonding chemical was used to ensure the best possible bonding.

Colourful ‘arty facts’ – spectrum of light with fine art images, heritage paintings and statues that imparts a stunning visual treat to the eyes.

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Chinese roof with gothic arches and titanium domes on either side.Right: Aesthetically designed arch windows and facades.

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No leakage or seepage was ever noticed in the roof structure of the Chaitanya Jyothi. In order to ensure proper curing, pounding for 28 days and column cured slabs and beams were cured using FOSROC WB water based membrane curing compound. For maintaining proper curvature of Chinese Roof and Gazebos, templates were used and finished surfaces matched exactly with the drawings. Maximum care was taken to maintain straight lines on the exterior finishes. To maintain uniformity, all mortar for plaster was mixed in concrete mixers. Filling in plinth was done using alternate layers of rock and murrum and compacted by plate vibrator. Fill portion of the road was compacted by a vibratory roller initially and later by a conventional road roller. Flooring required a wide variety of materials to be used, such as ceramic tiles, polished granite tiles of grey/red colour and of different tiles - like Jaisalmer marble tiles and white glazed tiles. Because of the coarse sand available in the area, the plastered surface had to be treated with plaster of paris and applied with acrylic emulsion paint. The external surface was treated with Heritage (granite) surfacing system and a pattern was created to stimulate granite masonry. Extensive stapathi work was done on flat surfaces to improve aesthetics. The structure is lit, for most part, by halide lamps of Thorn make. Fiber optic lights under the Chinese roof enhance the beauty of the decorative reflected ceiling. The edifice is something that all those connected with the construction can be proud of. The unique building, now named Chaitanya Jyoti, was inaugurated on 18th November 2000 by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Miniature animal forms (on roof) - characteristic of Chinese architecture. Top right: Aerial view of Chaitanya Jyothi as seen from the top of University Building.

I express my deep sense of appreciation and congratulate the team L&T for the excellent work done by them for the construction and timely completion of the Chaitanya Jyothi, which was inaugurated on 18th

November 2000 by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on his 75th Birthday celebration.

“Chaitanya Jyothi”is a unique but complex structure, set in a picturesque but very difficult site. Completing this project in one year has been a marvellous feat on the part of L&T. What makes this feat even more creditable is that maximum speed was combined with topmost quality and at the same time observing good engineering practices.

The dynamism, impetus and the boundless energy of the entire L&T team with its high degree of cohesion to carry out the task with single minded dedication, was largely instrumental in achieving this feat. The synergy of the entire team went a long way in achieving this feat, which L&T can be proud of.

Col. S.K. Bose (Rtd.), Trust Engineer

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In line with his mission ‘Health for all’, Swami has been undertaking primary and secondary health care through Sri Sathya Sai Hospital in the precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam since 1963. This general hospital now has 100 beds. All outpatients undergo preliminary scanning here before they are referred to specialists in the field for tertiary health care if any.

The first venture of Sri Sathya Sai Trust into tertiary care came up with the inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Puttaparthi on November 23, 1991. This 280-bed super speciality hospital was designed and built by ECC on turnkey basis in a record time of ten months.

The architecture of the building is conceived in the form of a human being with folded arms, symbolising love, affection and care. It is built on the lines of a palace, with arch-type windows and corridors running around almost the entire length of the hospital on the ground and first floors together with a domed terrace.

Structurally the building has been designed as a framed structure. The dome has been designed as a shell structure. It consists of conventional beam and column framework. The main central dome near the entrance, having a diameter of 24 m with a shell thickness of 150 mm, is supported on a ring beam with eight columns, placed equidistant from each other. The tip of the dome outside is crowned with an ornamental lotus and a beautiful chandelier of 2 tons hanging beneath, inside the central hall. Besides the main dome, there are 20 other domes.

Temple of healing - Front view of the Super Speciality Hospital at Prasanthigram.

Super Specality Hospital, Prasanthigram... Providing the Healing Touch

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The hospital has two floors, each having a height of 4.6m. This houses thirteen operation theatres, four intensive care units, one cath lab on the first floor and service facilities like OPD, X-ray dept, pharmaceutical stores, sterile stores, laboratories, blood banks, kitchen, central laundry on the second floor.

Till 1998, as many as 30,725 inpatients and 4,12,123 outpatients have benefited from state-of-the-art free treatment at this hospital.

The entrance gate from the road Top: The beautiful landscaping and horticulture work.

I was associated with L&T in Sri Satya Sai Super Speciality Hospitals in Puttaparthi (1990-91) and Whitefield (2000-2001).

L&T’s contribution in the building of Bhagawan’s hospitals has been monumental. The sheer scales of planning, meticulous execution and timely completion have always been underscored by Shri A. Ramakrishna’s personal commitment and devoted service.

Recently, I had the opportunity to see the Puttaparthi hospital through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time. While feelings of awe and wonder are customary when one sees this magnificent edifice, he remarked that it was difficult to believe that the building - strong, solid and spectacular - was 20 years old!

My most enduring impression of the L&T team is the open-mindedness and receptivity, which they have displayed to us - ‘clients’. When we were fitting out the Operation Theatres (OTs) at Whitefield, we discovered that the air flow from the centralized air conditioning was contrary to what is mandatory for an OT i.e. a laminar air flow. A laminar air flow is will pump in fresh air from the outside to replace the contaminated air, contrary to the centralized ACs.

We brought this to the L&T team’s attention, demonstrating our point with a smoking agarbatti! The team immediately caught on and went to great lengths to rectify this in spite of the paucity of time and the extent of the re-work required. We had a perfect OT ready for inauguration day! I salute their spirit and wish them all the best in their devoted efforts in future.

Dr. P. Venugopal, Chairman, Alchemist Medical Corporation

I have been blessed to design and build many projects around the world, but none compare to the building of the Super Specialty Hospital for Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Puttaparthi.

For the construction of the project, L&T literally received architectural drawings for the next day or two from London by courier almost daily, as 27 architects slaved in London and countless L&T structural, electrical, lighting and building engineers worked feverishly night and day with 1000’s of workers 24 hours on site. The will of Sai Baba is unshakable and the structure was completed in its basic form in 9 months, just a few hours before its inauguration by then India’s Prime Minster Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Although Mr. Ramakrishna, myself and the entire team of L&T are aged considerably over this time, the grace of being chosen by Sai Baba for this great philanthropic project, which is serving millions of India’s less fortunate citizens is the thrill of my life. Thank you, dear Swami.

Mr. Isaac Burton Tigrett, Founder of Hard Rock Café

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Overall view of the Prashantigram hospital. The architecture of the building is conceived in the form of a human-being with folded arms symbolizing love, affection and care.

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I was involved with L&T in the Planning and construction of SSSIHMS Hospital at Prashanthigram, where they executed a very good, highly professional work.

Both the planning and construction of this hospital was done by L&T in a record time of 7 months working day and night to construct a building which is very user, patient and eco-friendly.

Dr. A N Safaya, Director, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (SSSIHMS), Prashanthigram and Professor of Hospital Administration and Medical Superintendent, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Left: Massive central dome and other smaller domes impart an institutional feel to the building. Bottom: Uniquely designed overhead water tank capped with a dome amidst lotus buds.Left bottom and extreme left: The double height central dome is fitted with port hole windows glass paintings and other ornamental gold works. An ornate chandelier emerges from the center of the decorative floral design.

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Top left: Deities at the grand entrance lobby adds the touch the divinity.Left middle: Another view of the hospital. Left bottom: Beautiful view of the ornate chandelier, shimmering gold work and glass paintings that lets light and adds delight.Top: An artistically designed expansive open corridor with columns and waffle slabs.

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The enchanting front view of the hospital with statue of Lord Dhanvantri – God of Medicine.

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Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Whitefield...An engineering marvel

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Continuing the good work and yeoman service began at Super Speciality Hospital at Prasanthigram, Puttaparthi, Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba wanted to extend this critical healthcare facility to people in the suburbs of Bengaluru. This resulted in the creation of an imposing super speciality hospital and Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Whitefield in 2001. It came as a birthday gift from Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, when he completed 75 years. This hospital is a tertiary care institution that caters to the specialties of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, Neurology and Neurosurgery. And the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust once again called up on the high-tech construction expertise of ECC Construction Division of L&T to build this magnificent structure.

Top: Side view of the hospital and the ramp leading to the reception.Right: The awe inspiring and spacious expanse of the foyer with double height columns, waffled ceilings and central atrium.

This super speciality hospital incorporates some of the best facilities and provides high quality, free medical and surgical treatment encompassing:

• 330bedsand12operatingtheatres• TreatmentforcardiacillnessesasalsoCardio-Thorasic

Vascular Surgery, Neuro Surgery.• Trainingfornursesandpara-medics,

Most importantly, the hospital offers cardiac care to the poor and needy. The hospital is designed architecturally to create an atmosphere and environment, surcharged with love and hope and sanctified by divinity to encourage the curing of disease, not merely in body, but in mind and spirit as well.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore was the project that I was associated with L&T.

In my opinion, the Construction work done by L&T has to be seen to be believed. They do a high quality work at a very high speed. With the grace of Bhagawan they have been able to deliver all the projects as per deadlines set by Him. They always give their full commitment and do the work round the clock to complete the projects assigned to them.

In a short period of 18 months entire hospital of such magnificence and grandeur was made ready for inauguration on 19th January 2001. Anyone who has seen the hospital will not feel that this is possible.

Dr. A.S. Hegde, Director and Neuro-surgery Chairman

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The Architects for the Project are :Ravi Associates, BangaloreSai Architects, New DelhiMr. Srivastsan, Medical Consultant

In creating this high-rise structure of style and substance ECC brings its range of capabilities into play. These include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation works, including aesthetic “finishings” as also electro-mechanical services that make the buildings “intelligent” plus a gamut of systems such as water, sanitary, HVAC, elevator, fire protection, security and surveillance systems, landscaping and horticultural works. As a part of the turnkey services ECC also had to co-ordinate with BNA Agencies, medical gas agency, medical equipment suppliers, including architects and medical consultants.

The entire complex is a masterpiece from the master builder. ECC’s Knowledge Centre, the Engineering, Design and Research Centre (EDRC) at Chennai has carried out the comprehensive design for structural, electrical, HVAC works, water and hygiene and fire-fighting systems for this world class hospital.

The hospital is planned on a 52.26 acres of land donated by the Government of Karnataka and it is provided with the following facilities

For Cardiac Department

For NeurologyDepartment

Operation Theatres

8 4

Cath Lab 4 1

Post OP ICU Beds 45 30

Caronary Care Beds 45

Neurology 10

ICU Ward Beds 98 90

In tune with the ground profile, the main hospital building has been built with three floors in two front wings and four floors in rear. The total built-up area is 3,54,000 sq.ft. The building has a large central lobby with high ceiling and domes housed with Lord Ganesha. While the front wings houses the outpatient departments on the ground floor and the in-patient wards on the two upper floors, the administrative offices are housed in the rear. This includes the central stores, dietary kitchen, pharmacy and laundry. All the engineering services department operates from the basement.

The majestic entrance porch and central dome with beautiful ornamental columns.

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The emergency centre, the imaging and radiology sections, the blood bank and the laboratory are housed in the ground floor level II. The cardiac operation theatres, including the cardiac ICU and ancillaries are there in the first floor of the rear wing. The top floor houses the neurosurgery complex including the operation theatres and Intensive Care Units.

A detached reception block situated near the northwest corner of the plot provides the initial screening services for patients. In addition, there is a public canteen, lady voluntary block with cloak room and toilet blocks adjacent to it.

A 2,00,000 litre capacity over head tank has been planned on the northeast corner of the plot including the exclusive service building to house diesel generators, UPS Units, chiller units, boiler transformers. The total built-up area of this utility building is approximately 1,00,000 sq.ft.

Engineering Details (Structural Works)

In the hospital project, columns with flat slab structural system have been adopted to cater for more head room and speedy construction. For the main lobby, the waffle slab system has been adopted. The details of works executed by L&T’s ECC Division is furnished below:

Date of start of work : September 1999Date of completion of work : October 2000Value of work : Rs. 64 crores

Quantity of Works

Excavation incl. Grading : 1,19,000 cu.mConcrete : 30,600 cu.m Form Work : 1,13,500 sq.mReinforcement : 3,100 tonsBlock work : 47,500 sq.mPlastering : 99,500 sq.mWaterproofing : 6,050 sq.mFlooring/Wall Cladding : 53,250 sq.m

The meticulous planning of resources and day to day monitoring ensured completion of target set by clients.There are six domes, as detailed below:

Main Dome (Central Dome): 23 m in dia, 26 m from terrace.Other Domes (four):11 m in dia, 12 m from terrace, Porch Dome (one): 8 m in dia, 8 m from ground level

The main dome construction was on critical path of the project schedule, involving high staging (using Doka heavy-duty tower system). To ensure timely completion, structural steel trusses were provided to enable removal of staging below the ring beam, which facilitated to take up complicated flooring works of main dome and also to take up dome ceiling finishes.

I was actively involved in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram (AP) and Whitefield, Bengaluru. It stands as an example par excellence of both structural integrity and function as a patient-centred, state-of-the-art medical institution. The result is not only a hospital that is listed among the top 50 best hospital buildings in the world by P. James and T. Noakes in their book, “Hospital Architecture” (Longmans, 1994), but also most importantly, a hospital where the patient receives ideal healthcare for body, mind and spirit.

In the field of engineering it is indeed unusual to see such a fusion of structure, form and function. The work was expedited by L&T because of the love and energy of the workers, and the grace that our beloved Swami showered on them incessantly. During the execution of this monumental project, L&T senior executives, staff, managers, engineers and construction crews delightfully worked in harmony with doctors, architects and hospital administrators, under the direct guidance of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

In this context I recall an interesting anecdote - During the inauguration of the hospital on 19th Jan 2001, the then Prime Minister Honourable Sri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, mentioned in his speech that this medical institution is unique, where one gets both dava (medicine) and duva (Divine Blessings).

Dr. Narendranath Reddy, M.D., FACP, FACE

Public Health Engineering

Water requirements of the entire complex are met by two bore wells located inside the premises and in addition to water from Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board. The raw water gets treated in water treatment plant and then pumped to the overhead tank, from where it will be supplied by gravity flow. A Reverse Osmosis Plant has also been designed and installed to provide RO water for labs and CSSD areas. Sewage from the hospital is treated in the sewage water treatment plant and it is used for toilet-flushing and landscaping, thereby bringing about efficient water management.

Services

The hospital is provided with a well-equipped fire-alarm and fire fighting system including a pump house to meet the exigencies during fire accidents. A 800 TR (4 x 200 TR) capacity water cooled screw chiller takes care of the HVAC systems including 100% fresh air system for the patients in the operation theatres and ICU.

3000 kVA power tapped at 2 points from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited caters to the complete power requirements for medical equipment, illumination and utilities like HVAC, lift, water supply, sewage treatment plant etc. Two 650 kVA and 500 kVA Diesel Generators are installed to protect against power cuts. A 340 KW UPS is installed to give uninterrupted power supply.

A total of 6 million man-hours were engaged to ensure timely completion. The hospital was inaugurated on 19th January 2001 by the the Prime Minister of India, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee in the holy presence of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. On completion of the project, L&T’s project engineers stood back and gazed at the marvel, they created. Magnificence arose from the mundane, and a thing of beauty stands on what was once, a barren land. It is with Swami’s blessings, L&T turned this golden concept into glittering reality. It is, truly, Swami who has built it all.

A master piece from the master builder – Larsen & Toubro.

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The central atrium is a celebration of light both natural and from the ornate chandelier.Left Bottom: Ornamentally carved wooden handrail.

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State-of-the-heart hospital showing different facilities and sophisticated medical equipment installed to cure and care.

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Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports... For developing sports person to Olympic standards

The 4000 seat capacity Sri Sathya Sai Indoor Stadium with a built-up area of 1 Lakh sq.ft.

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The Sathya Sai International Centre For Sports was completed in a record duration of 150 days. The Sports Complex, spread over 7.05 acres, adds another dimension to the existing cricket ground (turf pitch) of the Outdoor Stadium. It has a 58 metres x 98 metres multi-sport hall with elliptical galleries on all sides. The complex has an octagonal display centre with a diameter of 60 feet. Indoor Stadium offers six disciplines - badminton, basketball, table tennis, squash, volleyball and gymnastics.The stadium’s hall has a capacity of 4,000 people. The building has six entrances. All facilities meet Olympic standards.

The flooring is made layer by layer, starting with a concrete slab and followed by a damp proof membrane. It is then covered by insulation sheet which is followed by a layer of screed. After the screed, an elastic layer of 10-14 mm is provided by a plastic web, a PVA glue layer and finally topped with a plastic finish layer. The flooring is made of 100% recycleable products.It complies with the world-wide sports flooring standard, i.e. NFP90-203, OIN18-032/2. The surface has been approved by ITF (Tennis), IBF (badminton), FIVB (volleyball), FIBA(basketball), ITTF (table tennis) and IHF (handball).

Sathya Sai International Centre For Sports also offers: • Tenniscomplexhavingfourhard

courts with synthetic top. • TwoSquashcourts.• YogacumAerobicsCentre.• AhallforGymnasiumcumHealth

club.

This sports complex has been aesthetically designed with columns and beams with adequate lighting and ventilation system for different arenas. It comes with international-class facilities such as practice areas, gym, locker facilities and administration offices.

The octogonal shaped display centre (60 ft. Dia) in the foreground with shell roof and oval shaped indoor games hall in the background, completed in just 150 days.

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Well lit interior of the games hall with the playing arena and seating gallery.

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The stadium on a 4.8-acre site has the largest open frame space dome in the country. It has been built to Olympic specifications and can host international tournaments. Baba has always championed the quest for excellence. Here, he has created a facility that will prepare sports persons from all over the country to strive for gold at global levels. Like all his projects this one too is for the benefit of the country and comes at no charges.

The stadium has all amenities such as state-of-the-art training facilities and equipment. The scoring and TV systems are the best in the world. From flooring to seating, every bit that makes this a world-class facility has been brought from different, parts of the world. It also has a well-equipped gym and tennis complex, accommodation facilities and stands to seat 4,000 spectators.

As part of the inauguration, a volleyball match between India and Sri Lanka, a basketball match between India and Indonesia, and gymnastics display by some members of the Athens Olympics gold winning Greece team was also held. The highlight of the events was a basketball display by the Harlem Globetrotters whoJMye, who came down to be part of the opening ceremony.

The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, the apex body that has commissioned the facility, brings down coaches from all over the world for train youngsters and to win Olympic medals for India.

This state-of-the-art, Olympic-standard indoor stadium was inaugurated by President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam at Puttaparthi.

Inside view of the octogonal shaped display centre with shell roof and compression ring.

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I recall two instances of L&T’s dedication in executing and completing works on time schedule, which any one would consider near impossible - International Sports stadium at Puttaparthi and the Water Supply Project in East and West Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh. I have, of course, heard about many other projects like the Super Specialty Hospital at Prasanthi Gram, Chennai Water Supply Project, etc. which are far more spectacular.

The one supervening observation in regard to all the projects is that they are all Swami’s projects, and it is His will which governs every one of them.

Mr. S.V. Giri, Former Vice Chancellor, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

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Different views of the state-of-the-art indoor stadium built to Olympic standards.

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B-School for Women at Anantapur...An elite school of business management

Architectural and Design Parameter

This building has been designed and built:• Toplacethestructureclosertothemainhighwaywitha

wide frontage.• Asagroundplustwostoriedstructurewithtwowings

having a grand entrance with a reception hall in the center of the building

• Asamodularstructurewithmoderngridsystem• Toprovideeasyconnectivitytoalllevelsthroughbroad

staircases at vantage points• Toprovideacomprehensiveandefficientlyloadedsingle

corridor for heavy movement• Withthenaturalflooringmaterialstotakecareofthewear

and tear and easy maintenance• Withlargewindowsandwidedoorsforgoodventilation

and easy circulation

Larsen & Toubro recently completed the construction of the Business School for Women at Anantapur Sri Sathya Sai University Campus with complete infrastructure facilities designed for an in-take of 120 students per year.

Consisting of ground plus two levels, the school is provided with complete amenities like the library, display / class rooms, administration area, computer lab including a spacious dining hall in the ground floor. The first and second floors are designed as typical twin room hostel facility with attached bathrooms to accommodate students. In addition, there is a central television and recreation hall for entertainment and leisure.

The turnkey construction of the project was undertaken by L&T while FBA Architects, Chennai, the principal consultants, conceptualized this project as per the guidelines of Dr. A. Ramakrishna, Former President and Deputy Managing Director of L&T. While conceptualizing the school building, the following architectural and design parameters were taken into consideration.

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AreasGround FloorFirst FloorSecond FloorTotal

Sq.m11059759753087 sq.m

Sq.ft11894104951049533229 sq.ft

Panoramic view of the ‘B’ school for women. This 33,000 sq.ft building is designed for an intake of 120 students per year.

Built Form

This building is aesthetically planned and designed with decorative columns and domes in a balanced manner with the central dome bigger in size than the rest of the domes. Moreover, conventional Sthapathi works have been introduced in the parapet area and windows to give an ancient heritage institutional look for the building.

Structural System

The modular grid system has been introduced in a way that the ground floor level provides class rooms and other academic facilities. First and second floors have been constructed with same grid system to accommodate hostel rooms with attached bath facilities.

Articulation

This building has been designed and built in the conventional way infused with heritage characteristics including various decorative elements, features, dome facade and the like. The dome architecture gives the building its magnanimous look apart from the typical institutional characteristics.

I am associated with the proposed Advanced Multi-Disciplinary Research Centre and Departments of Management and Mathematics and Computer Science.

Building Plans for this project are getting ready for the approval of Bhagawan and the work is yet to commence. However, am interacting with L&T engineers and architects and find that they have the acumen to quickly grasp all ideas required for proper usage and functionality with a flair for aesthetic appeal. And the quick delivery of the draft plans.

I was actively involved with L&T in the Construction of the new Humanities Building at the Prasanthi Nilayam campus during 2005 and 2006 and later construction of a new building for the Management Programme for girls at the Anantapur campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. In all the above projects, I observed that three things went together at every stage and for every task. These are (a) quality of the final product, (b) strict adherence to requirements and Instructions and (c) timely completion of the total task.

Whenever I see the Baha’i Temple in Delhi, I think of L&T with admiration.

Prof. J. Shashidhara Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher LearningProf. Vishwanath Pandit, Former Vice-Chancellor,

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Vidyagiri, Prasanthi Nilayam

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Sai Bhaktha Nivas...For more influx and added comforts

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Two of the five dormitory complexes inaugurated by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on September 11, 2010 at Prasanthi Nilayam. Each of this dormitory is designed to accommodate 864 devotees.

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Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba declared open three out of five dormitory blocks completed by L&T at Prasanthi Nilayam on 11th September, 2010 and dedicated them to Sai devotees on the auspicious occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi. Consisting of ground plus two stories, each of these dormitory block has an area of 40950 sq.ft . The walls of the buildings are made of solid block masonry while the floors and roof including the stairways are made of precast elements. Each of this dormitory is designed to accommodate 864 devotees.

Sai Bhaktha Nivas is a dwelling place for the devotees thronging Prasanthi Nilayam from all over the world to have a darshan of Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. In order to meet the growing accommodation needs of overflowing devotees at Prasanthi Nilayam, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba decided to build these five new dormitories. Unlike the earlier built dormitory sheds with sheet roof, the new dormitory dons a modern look and they are provided with complete amenities for the devotees to have a comfortable stay.

Surrendering the fruit of action to the Lord is real sacrifice.

Top left: Interior view of the dormitory. Inset: A. Ramakrishna briefing Swami about the facilities. Bottom left: An illuminated view of the building. Above: Between two wings of the dormitory, there is an intermediary open space for ventilation and lighting.

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Each of these new dormitories is provided with two blocks – a spacious hall of size 12m x 30 m area in the front with a 9 m x 32 m toilet block in the backyard. Divided into two wings, each dormitory block has two staircases in the centre of the building to provide access to the upper floors. Overlooking downwards between the two wings, is an open intermediary space for better ventilation and lighting.

160 precast rib slabs, each of size 5.8 m x 1.61 m form the floor of the first and second floors and each of these rib slab weighs 2 tons. The second floor roof is made of precast shell elements, each having a dimension of 13.9 m length x 2.65 m width and a weight of 9.5 tons. 42 parabolic shell roof elements adorn each dormitory complex. The curved edges of the precast roof shells placed side by side and projected outward along the sides of the building with its wavy form design, presents the structure a beautiful look. There are two precast stair ways providing access – one in the front and the other at the backyard of the dormitory. Each of these stairways are made of 12 precast segments each weighing 5 tons.

There are two entrance doors for each wing and sufficient space is provided for the walkways. Accommodation inside the hall is provided in the form of a double deck steel cot with berths (cushion beds). The two wings in each floor provides 8 rows of 8 double berths (lower and upper berths) which can totally accommodate 288 persons per floor and altogether 864 persons in three floors of one dormitory block. Adequate number of ceiling fans and lights are fitted for good ventilation and lighting. In the backyard, the toilet block is provided with bath rooms, wash basins, closets and taps with good water connectivity and lighting.

A casting yard at a strategic location with negative moulds yielded the required precast rib slabs, staircase segments and roof shells. After casting, they were demoulded, transported and erected in place with heavy lift cranes for speedier operations.

The operations which began on February 2010 was completed in a record time of eight months by 30th September, 2010.

Major items of work

Precast elements• Floorribslabs - 800Nos• RoofShellelements - 206Nos• Staircasesegments - 60Nos Structural• Concrete - 3380cu.m• Shuttering - 23190sq.m• Reinforcement - 600tons

Architectural• SolidBlockmasonry - 16980sq.m• Plastering - 35420sq.m• Flooring&dado - 39230sq.m• Painting - 58800sq.m

Top right: Exterior view of Sai Bhaktha Nivas.Right: Mr. K. Chakravarthi, Mr. Satish Nayak and Architect Rama Nayak explaining details of a new project to Swami.

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Prasanthi Tower, Muddenahalli...Reaching high into the sky and keeping the time of the village

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Prasanthi Tower - an elevated landmark on a landscaped hillock.

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An iconic clock tower structure for Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has been built by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust at Muddhenahalli in Chickabal-lapur District of Karnataka. The serene and lush green locale of Muddenahalli has been chosen for constructing this monumental structure, Prasanthi Tower. Perched on the highest point of a small hillock, this 120 feet (36m) high build-ing is already the most notable or visible land-mark structure with its enthralling architecture, set amidst the hilly surroundings and verdant fields. The main feature of the building, the clock tower, is the time keeper of the entire village, for it reminds villagers of the exact satellite time by striking the bell every hour on a 12 hour basis. The resonating waves of the bell goes splitting the air and reaches a distance of 6-8 km radius around the village. Being a square tower, there are four clocks installed on four faces of the tower, each of which measure 12 feet in diam-eter in order to be visible from a long distance. Rising high into the sky, the clock tower ema-nates from the petal like red coloured RCC shell roof making Prasanthi Tower look like a lovely flower from afar.

The podium of the Prasanthi Tower is located about 50 feet above the ground level on the hill-ock and a beautiful 6m wide winding ramp and drive way provides access to the ground floor of the building, from below. Architecturally, the building has been conceived in the form of Adhisesha - the Serpent God with its geometri-cal forms – a combination of circles, squares, covered with conical folded plate roof, all sym-bolizing the form of the snake when viewed from the air.

The 6m wide ramp and 8m wide circular driveway leading to the ground floor of Prasanthi Tower. The twin columns cantilever circumferentially with radial beams, gives the driveway the floating effect. Top: Ramp leading to the circular driveway. Above: Bottom of the elevated driveway showing the twin columns and radial beams.

The 36m high iconic clock tower building perched on the hillock. This ground plus two storied structure has folded plate red coloured RCC shell roof arranged like the petals of a lovely flower.

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Top: The second floor open corridor over looking the famous Nandi Hills, a hill resort in Karnataka. This is covered by RCC shell roof.Right: Different view of the main hall with lobby.

There is only one religion, the religion of Love; There is only one language, thelanguage of the Heart; There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity; There is only one law, the law of Karma; There is only one God, He is Omnipresent.

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Extreme Left: The entrance porch and the main hall in the ground floor has an area of 256 sq.m.Top Left: The spacious main hall with windows, stairs and lift.Left : View of the entrance porch and driveway as seen from the second floor open corridor.

The 8m wide circular ramp has been built with twin columns cantilevering circumfer-entially with radial beams. This gives the driveway the floating effect on top of the hill. The ground floor has an area of 256 sq.m and it comprises the entrance car porch which leads in to the main hall lobby, display area, service rooms, lift and a stair case further leading to the upper floors. The first floor having an area of 214 sq.m consists of the Senate Hall, Swami’s room and caretaker rooms.

The second floor of the building has an expansive viewing gallery (open on all sides) of 214 sq.m covered with the folded plate roof and the clock tower rising up in the center. Thus, the entire architecture with its decorative elements gives the structure the perspective of an outstanding monument.

From the terrace floor one can experience a breathtaking view of the natural beauty of the surrounding village. Perhaps the most captivating of all is the breathtaking view of the lofty Nandi hills on the Southern part of the towers.

Prasanthi Towers is built in an area of about 5 acres (20000 sq. ft) which forms the southern part of the 58 acres of the Muddenahalli University Campus. Overlooking the University Campus on the northern side, the tower has beautiful views of green agricultural fields on its eastern, western and southern parts.

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Extreme Left: The entrance porch and the main hall in the ground floor has an area of 256 sq.m.Top Left: The spacious main hall with windows, stairs and lift.Left : View of the entrance porch and driveway as seen from the second floor open corridor.

The 8m wide circular ramp has been built with twin columns cantilevering circumfer-entially with radial beams. This gives the driveway the floating effect on top of the hill. The ground floor has an area of 256 sq.m and it comprises the entrance car porch which leads in to the main hall lobby, display area, service rooms, lift and a stair case further leading to the upper floors. The first floor having an area of 214 sq.m consists of the Senate Hall, Swami’s room and caretaker rooms.

The second floor of the building has an expansive viewing gallery (open on all sides) of 214 sq.m covered with the folded plate roof and the clock tower rising up in the center. Thus, the entire architecture with its decorative elements gives the structure the perspective of an outstanding monument.

From the terrace floor one can experience a breathtaking view of the natural beauty of the surrounding village. Perhaps the most captivating of all is the breathtaking view of the lofty Nandi hills on the Southern part of the towers.

Prasanthi Towers is built in an area of about 5 acres (20000 sq. ft) which forms the southern part of the 58 acres of the Muddenahalli University Campus. Overlooking the University Campus on the northern side, the tower has beautiful views of green agricultural fields on its eastern, western and southern parts.

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A different view of the architectural masterpiece showing the circular driveway, twin coloumns, the entrance porch, the podium level of the building and the clock tower emnating from the folded plate shell roof.

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Clock Tower Features

Diameter of the clock dial : 3.6 m dia. eachNumber of faces : 4 (Four Sided Tower clock)Dial Architecture : Acrylic white sheet dial with black vinyl cut Roman numerals from I to XII along with minute markingsMovement : Stepper motor driven brass gear movement enclosed in a weather proof and anti-corrosive aluminum die-cast metal box. GPS Receiver unit : Clock features a GPS receiver to receive time signals from the satellite (no manual time-setting required)Working power : 230 Volts AC single hhase electric power with stand-by battery power

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University College Campus,Muddenahalli... set amidst majestic hills and bounty of nature

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Sri Sathya Sai Grama at Muddenahalli in Chickaballapur District of Karnataka is endowed with a beautiful educational campus comprising academic buildings and class rooms for Primary and Higher Second-ary courses. In order for students to pursue their higher education Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba desired to build a university college that would provide quality education to deserving students after completion of their higher secondary courses at the Muddenahalli campus itself. The serene setting and the congenial atmosphere prevailing at Mudde-nahalli is ideally suited for young minds to indulge themselves in higher education and academic development. With this idea in the mind Sri Sathya Sai University College has been aesthetically conceived, de-signed and built with future expansion closer to the existing campus at Muddenahalli. Consisting of a rectangular ground plus two storied structure, the col-lege building has a total built up area in excess of 49,000 sq.ft. The building comprises decorative columns and domes of varying sizes on the terrace. The height of central dome has been raised and well utilized by providing a mezzanine floor in the second floor level for the library. The library is perhaps the most fascinating of all rooms with its circular form including a mezzanine level to accommodate more students.

The entire building presents a captivating look with its grand central dome flanked by smaller domes on its sides. Three domes have been built on the terrace in order to provide symmetry to the entire struc-ture. This dome architecture gives a magnanimous look representing high standard institutional character.

In addition, there is an imposing entrance dome at a lower elevation, forming the entrance porch. Students will pass under this entrance porch and climb up a flight of stairs to reach the first and second floor corridors. This gives a better ambience while entering the building with the large open space and landscape around it. The college building has been planned with expansive open spaces, well lit and ventilated rooms, and good access roads. Students can benefit from the airy and well lit class rooms, labs and library. There is a landscaped courtyard in the inside centre of the college which pro-vides good aesthetics apart from enabling proper air circulation.

Designed to cater to the educational needs of about 300 students, the university college building features wide staircases on either sides along with connecting corridors to facilitate easy movement of the large student population.

Also wider road connectivity has been provided considering the large vehicle traffic and other users. The slope at the site has been well utilized incorporating an interesting landscaping with creation of water bodies giving a pleasing transition to the entire structure.

Top left: Front view of the college building. Two murals “Kodanda Rama’ and “Murali Krishna’ would adorn the blank vertical wall faces at left and right.Top: Front entrance. Left: Entrance to Chancellors’ room in the first floor of the courtyard.

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The captivating view from the corridors of knowledge-power, showing the entrance dome on the left and the central courtyard on the right.

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Top left: A breathtaking view of the college from the terrace showing the corridors and staircase. Top right: A view of the library with a mezzanine floor for book shelves.

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Different views of University College Campus.

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Water For All...To quench the thirst

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Anantapur District

For millions in Rayalaseema and Telengana Regions of Andhra Pradesh, getting pure drinking water was a daily drudgery. It meant trudging long distance, often in vain. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust decided that the villagers should never again trek for something which ought to be on their taps and proposed the Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Projects covering more than 1000 villages in Anantapur, Medak and Mahabubnagar districts and providing water to more than two million people who had lived all their lives on the edge of drought and despair.

This was a dream turned into reality, as safe drinking water flowed into the parched districts of Anantapur, Medak and Mahabubnagar. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust made it possible. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba reached out to the neglected villages with a sense of urgency, and the project was completed with speed and efficiency, thanks to the commitment and spirit of service displayed by various agencies.

In November 1994, the Trust began its mission in Anantapur. The Panchayat Raj department ofGovernment of Andhra Pradesh acted quickly, submitted plans for providing drinking water to more than 700 villages and urban centres such as Anantapur, Kadiri, Dharmavaram as indicated byBhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Construction of this massive project was entrusted to ECC.

Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply ProjectsCoverage: Three Districts - 1051 villages - 10.8 million people

Overhead water reservoir at Anantapur

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Water treatment plant at Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir, which covers 93 villages in Kalyandurg and Atmakur.

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Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project at Anantapur consists of four schemes:

• ComprehensiveProtectedWaterSupplySchemesinvolving infiltration wells, collection wells and associated pumping behind the Chirtavati Balancing Reservoir at Peddakotla and Chinnakotla villages covering 169 villages. Sources for other infiltration wells include Penna and Hagari river which cover 93 villages.

• DirectpumpingfromPennaAhobilamBalancingReservoir (PABR) and treatment through

rapid sand filtration system. This consists of two major lines passing through Kalyandurg and

Atmakur covering 93 villages.• ComprehensiveProtectedWaterSupplySchemes

(CPWS) through seven summer storage tanks rang-ing upto 100 acres by tapping water from Tungab-hadra High Level Canal, covering 97 villages. Water Treatment Plant at PABR for Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project at Anantapur

• TheProtectedWaterSupply(PWS)Schemecovers279 villages. It involved drilling deep borewells,

construction of storage tanks and installation of pipeline networks.

The design, engineering and implementation of Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Supply project in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India, (a massive project worth nearly US$70 million) was completed by L&T within 18 months without cost overruns; exceeding the international norms and standards in my experience. L&T’s performance was characterised by a combination of high levels of professionalism, integrity, innovation and team spirit and a rare sense of vision.

During the course of an independent evaluation of the project by UN-HABITAT (2003) jointly with the Asian Development Bank, the assessment team was deeply moved by the impact the project had on the lives of nearly a million people who benefited from it. A touching example was a widow and mother of three children in a remote village in Anantapur district whose daughter had to drop out of the school in order to fetch water from long distances before the project was implemented. After the project had brought water close to their doorstep, the girl had been readmitted to school and the mother was planning to revive her late husband’s weaving business in the productive time she had gained back with no more long distance treking for fetching water.

Mr. Kalyan Ray, Former Chief of Infrastructure Branch, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and Senior Advisor to UN Under-Secretary General, UN-HABITAT.

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Thus, the Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project came into being as a collaborative effort of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, the Government of Andhra Pradesh and ECC. It was Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba who brought these three distinctly different organisations together. He inspired them to workwith a unity of purpose and harmony of thought. Significant features that characterise the uniqueness of this project include:

• Thestringenttimeframe• Thevastmagnitude• Projectcostfundedbyacharitable

organization

Clockwise from top: Pipeline Network. Water treatment plant showing clariflocculators, overhead water storage reservoir and aerator at Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir. Water cistern installed at a village for tapping water .Pumphouse with water lines and a connecting bridge.

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Clockwise from top left: A typical 1.5 lakh litre capacity overhead water storage reservoir.Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir (PABR)Pumphouse.

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Clockwise from top: Birds’ eye view of PABR showing massive clariflocculator and ground level storage reservoirs.Aerator at the summer storage tank.Infiltration well and water lines.Substation and pumphouse near summer storage tank.

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Salient Features

• Layingofmorethan2000kmofAC,CI,DI,MSandPVCpipelinesofdifferent diameters ranging from 80 mm to 600 mm

• Constructionof43sumpsfrom1lakhto25lakhlitrecapacity• Constructionof18balancingreservoirsatthetopofhillockswith

capacities ranging from 3 lakh to 10 lakh litres• Constructionof270overheadreservoirsrangingfrom40,000litresto

3,00,000 litres capacity• 125groundlevelreservoirsrangingfrom20,000litresto80,000litres

capacity• Installationofmorethan1500precastconcretecisternsof2500litres

capacity, with provision for four taps per cistern

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Left: Swami flanked by R. Kondala Rao (left) and A. Ramakrishna (right).Right and bottom: Water cisterns installed at different villages for tapping pure drinking water.

I was part of Bhagavan Baba’s Satya Sai drinking water projects in Anantapur district, Medak, Mahabubnagar, East and West Godavari districts including water supply projects to provide drinking water to Chennai City. I was also involved in the project of providing drinking water supply project to Tirumala for devotees.

In all these projects, I found L&T work with excellent quality norms and completing them in record speed. My sincere greetings and compliments to Shri A. Ramakrishna and all L&T officers who worked day and night tirelessly, for completing the water supply projects taken up by them.

Mr. R. Kondala Rao, Engineer-in-Chief (Retd.) and presently Technical Advisor to the Government

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Medak & Mahabubnagar

Medak & Mahabubnagar are two districts of Telengana region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which are drought prone and fluoride affected due to erratic rainfall and over- exploitation of the ground water. Mahabubnagar district is situated on the western part and Medak district is situated in northwest central part of Andhra Pradesh.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba willed that pure and safe drinking water should be made available to the people of these districts and launched the Sri Sathya Sai Water supply project during March 1999. The Government of Andhra Pradesh, realising the importance of the project, immediately came forward to supply raw water from various sources like Krishna River in Mahabubnagar District & Manjeera River, Haldivagu stream and H.M.W.S.S.B. Mains in Medak District. This apart, the government also agreed to provide land for putting up various civil structures, electrical power for operating the schemes and also extending administrative and technical support to the Trust.

The project envisaged providing drinking water to 145 villages in Mahabubnagar and 175 villages in Medak districts. This was achieved by providing 12 Comprehensive Protected Water Supply (CPWS) schemes covering 250 villages and individual Protected Water Supply (PWS) Schemes for 70 villages with the help of sources from Intake well at Medak, Overhead balancing reservoir at Anantapur and bore wells.

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Clockwise from left: Overhead Storage Reservoir at Medak.Close up view of the intake well.An intake well in the reservoir.

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Anantapur

Villages covered : 731 nos.Population served : 9.50 lakhsDesign Population : 15 lakhsNo. of PWS Schemes : 279 nos.No. of CPWS Schemes : 21 nosMajor CPWS Schemes : 4 nosTrunk Line covered : 750 kmBranch Line covered : 1550 km OHSR(0.4 to 3.0 lakh litres) : 270 nos GLSR(0.2 to 0.8 lakh litres) : 125 nos GLBR(3.0 to 10.0 lakh litres) : 18 nosBooster Stations : 40 nosSummer Storage Tanks : 07 nosInfiltration Wells : 13 nosBore Wells : 250 nos

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Medak and Mahabubnagar

Population served : 1.30 MillionCPWS in Mahabubnagar : 94 VillagesCPWS in Medak : 157 VillagesIndividual PWS Schemes : 70 VillagesInfiltration / Intake wells : 13 nos (3 m to 5 m dia and 22 m dia depth)OHSR / OHBR : 25 nosGLSR / GLBR : 18 nosSumps : 54 nosPump Houses : 38 nosConventional Water Treatment Plants (2.00 MLD to: 5 nos 10.00 MLD)Water Treatment Plant by Micro filter system: 2 nos (65 to 80 cu.m/hr)

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This project involved construction of civil structures like water treatment plants, over head reservoirs, sumps, ground level reservoirs, pump houses, pipeline laying and commissioning including Project Management Services for the execution of mechanical & electrical works. The total length of pipeline is approx. 800 km involving various types of pipes such as AC, PVC, HDPE, PSC, GI and MS of varying diameters ranging from 63 to 600 mm.

Work commenced in May 1999 and 77 villages were commissioned on 23rd November 1999 for the 74th birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Similarly a total of 290 villages were completed by 23rd November 2000 for Swami’s 75th birthday.

Left: Overhead Balancing Reservoir. Bottom: A school girl from the village, quenching her thirst.

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Clockwise from top left: Ductile iron and mild steel pipelines after laying in the hilly terrain of the project. Intake well. Inside the pumphouse. Exterior view of the pumphouse. 2.5 mlpd water treatment plant.

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Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust took up this project to provide drinking water to the people of Chennai City. The total length of the Sai Ganga Canal from Somasila Dam to Poondi reservoir is 200km. When the required quantity of drinking water let into the canal was not reaching Chennai due to heavy leakage, damages and breaches at various points, experts from Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Irrigation Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh and L&T, under the leadership of Mr. R. Kondala Rao, inspected the canal periodically when water was in full flow, to investigate the losses due to leakage. Following these investigations the Sai Ganga Canal project was launched and L&T were appointed turnkey contractors.

The major works involved in the Project were:

• ImprovementworksofKandaleruReservoir• GroutingworksofKandaleruReservoircutoffwall• EaseningofslopesatApproachChannelandSaiGanga

Canal• ConcretelininginSaiGangaCanalatvulnerablelocations• ConstructionofEscapes&Regulatorsatthreedifferent

locations• Othermiscellaneousstructuresandimprovements

The major items of plant & machinery deployed at variouslocations were:

• BatchingPlantofvaryingcapacity(9to36cu.m)-9nos.• TransitMixers-39nos.• ConcretePaverwithrails-19nos.• RoadRollers(10Ton)-10nos.• Vibromax-07nos.• PowerGenerator(25to125kVA)-41nos.• Compressorwithallaccessories-15nos.• RockBreaker-03nos.• WagonDrill-03nos.• Excavator(onewith14mlongboom)-19nos.• Tippers-70nos.

Sathya Sai Ganga Canal... Telugu Ganga Project

Improvements at Kandaleru Dam

The job involved the following major works:

• Roughstonerevetmentof70,000cu.m.ofsizevarying from 225 mm to 450 mm on slopes 1.5:1, height varying from 20 m to 46 m

• EscaperegulatorsontheSaiGangaApproachCanal No. 22

• Layingof0.5mmthickgeotextilefiltermedia-13,800 sq.m.

• 4,000cu.mofGabionplacedalongthelengthand across to form panel walls and protect the revetment stones from the wave forces of water

Rough stones of size 225 mm and 300 mm were filled in the eroded parts of the earthen dam. Further 450 mm stone slabs were placed to protect the entire inside dam portionwherever left unfinished during earlier stages. This was done to increase the storage capacity to 67 TMC in the Reservoir (FRL).

A quartzite stone quarry was established 25 km from Kandaleru Reservoir. The job was completed within a short duration of effective 150 working days. The most critical part of the work was the approach to inside of the dam which was through two ramps located 6 km away from each other and the bund width of which was 4.50 m.

Clockwise from top left: Approach channel near the Kandaleru Dam. L&T Excavator in operation. Lining work with automatic pavers to ensure accurate and smooth surface. Canal being prepared to regular dimensions before concrete lining.

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Grouting works at Kandaleru

Grouting works of Kandaleru Reservoir cutoff wall upto a depth of 75.00 m using casing pipes and pressure of cement to arrest the piping action in the Earthen Bund. 133 drill holes were driven in hard rock and grouted with cement.

Sai Ganga Approach Channel

The work involves widening of deep cut portion of the mouth of Kandaleru Reservoir upto Head Regulator for a length of 700m out of 3200m. The existing canal having a deep cut of 20 – 24 m in ¼: 1 slope was getting eroded and caving into the canal during monsoon. Since the soil strata were a combination of gravelly earth, shales, sheet rock, softdisintegrated rock, hard rock etc, the soil at certain areas when in contact with water, softened and dissolved, causing erosion of the bunds.

To overcome such isses, the canal was widened to 1.5:1 slopes and protected with weld mesh reinforced cement concrete (1: 3: 6), 70 mm thick by guniting method. The entire soil strata were bolted with anchor rods of 20 mm

dia, 1.5 m depth. Apart from easing of slopes, the entire top portion of the bund was to be protected as otherwise the entire area would be submerged when the reservoir becomes full. Major quantities of work involved were:

Excavation in all types of soil : 2,00,000 cu.mHard rock : 38,000 cu.mGuniting : 48,000 sq.m

Head Regulators

Similar work as in Approach Channel was carried out in Sai Ganga Canal chainage 0.2 – 0.6 km due to the nature of the soil strata and also to keep the canal in straight line toavoid the impact load of water when the Regulators are opened. Major works involved were:

Excavation in all types of soil : 60,000 cu.mHard rock : 40,000 cu.mGuniting : 8,500 sq.m

Concrete Lining

Due to heavy leakage, erosion and breaches at several places, only 3 TMC out of designed 10 TMC reached the destination (Poondi Reservoir) from Kandaleru Dam. 65 km of concrete lining was taken up in different stretches over a length 152 km.

Cement concrete lining of 100mm thick, M15 grade PP Cement was used. To arrest seepage / leakage and also to increase velocity of flow, canal pavers (self-spreading / compacting & frictionless smooth finishing) was used for concreting the bed and side slopes. Guniting with weld mesh reinforcement was also done in the portion of hard rock.

Random rubble masonry and rough stone revetment works were carried out at vulnerable reaches where heavy erosions and breaches occurred. Cement concrete lining was done in canal of bed width varying from 5.5m to 29.0m and slope length varying from 8m to 14m. Major quantity of works involved were:

Earth work in excavation : 8,00,000 cu.mFilling with Gravel : 5,00,000 cu.mLining : 1,75,000 cu.mGuniting : 1,70,000 sq.m

Left: Gabion and stone revetment works done at the Kandaleru Dam. Bottom: Close-up view of the revetment work.

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Escapes and Regulators

Three numbers of Escape and Regulators were constructed at three different locations across the Sai Ganga Canal involving 14,290 cu.m. of concrete, 19 nos of Gate (210 MT) and embedments of 70 MT to (1) regulate the surplus waters during floods; (2) to safeguard the earthen canal bunds from breaches; (3) to take up repairs / maintenance in the canal; (4) and above all to regulate the flow of water into the nearby nallas during emergencies/surplus floods through the escapes.

Miscellaneous Improvements

Flume: During monsoons, the soil on the slopes is getting eroded and choked in the flume and canal portion. The scope involved widening of the slopes in deep cut portion, protecting the sides with stone masonry and provision of chute drains.

In the canal for about 1.00 km at the flume portion the deposited silt was saturated with subsoil water upto

1.50 m depth. Removal of the silt and slush was a difficult task where canal bed was 15m deep from the top of bund. The soil at this location was very hard but when it came in contact with water it softened and became loamy slush. Wellpoint dewatering system was deployed to overcome the difficulty in excavation to the designed bed level. Major quantity of works involved were:

Easening of slopes & excavation in bed : 30000 cu.mStone masonry : 7500 cu.mWell point dewatering : 120000 HP Hrs

Revetment in Canal

The canal passes through some local tanks and lakes. The flooded water during monsoons enter the canal at lower levels, causing damage / breach in the bunds and leading to loss of water during summer when water is let into the canal from Kandaleru to Poondi through the weak bunds. To prevent this, vulnerable reaches were identified and protection works carried out in the form of stone masonry, rough stone revetment, grouting with cement

concrete (1:2:4) and guniting. Major quantity of works involved were:

Stone masonry - 5,000 cu.mRough stone revetment - 20,000 cu.m

Inlets & Chute Drains

The water during rainy days from the hills and catchment areas was entering the canal from the bund top there by eroding the bunds - causing breaches and deposits of silt on the bed. To prevent this, vulnerable points were identified along the canal passing through hillocks. Cement concrete inlet structures and chute drains were constructed through catch drains letting the rainwater into the canal.

Improvements in Flood Flow Canal

Surplus water from Somasila Reservoir flows to Kandaleru Reservoir through open channel. Certain vulnerable stretches of the Somasila–Kandaleru Flood Flow Canal were to be protected

from heavy erosion and deposition of silt by cement lining, guniting, stonemasonry and rough stone revetment on the high embankment Major quantity of works involved were:

Lining - 10,500 cu.mGuniting - 10,000 sq.mStone masonry - 2,000 cu.mRough stone revetment - 10,000 cu.m

68456 tons of cement required for the project was issued free by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.

Special Features of the Project

• Usageofpolypropylenesheet(geo-textile) as filter media under dam revetment

• Usageofgabions(asrenomatress)forrevetment / panel wall

• Usageofhighdensitypolyethylenesheets as water tight membrane un-der cement concrete lining

• Groutingofdamcutoffwallforadepth of 75.00 m

• Gunitingworkswithweldmeshrein-forcement and rock bolting

• Pressurereliefvalvesusingporousconcrete cylinders (plugs), perforated HDPE pipes surrounded with polypro-pylene sheet.

Left: Gates and a minor-bridge with ornamental works in the Sai Gana Water Supply Project, which provides drinking water to Chennai City. Bottom: Escape regulators at the canal.

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The Telugu Ganga project is a water supply scheme implemented to provide drinking water to Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is also known as the Krishna Water Supply Project, since the source of the water is the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. For this, water is drawn from the Srisailam first and sent to Kandaleru reservoir and then diverted towards Chennai through a series of inter-linked canals, over a distance of about 200 km, before it reaches the Poondi reservoir near Chennai. The main checkpoints en route include the Somasila reservoir, the Kandaleru reservoir, the ‘Zero Point’ near Uthukkottai where the water enters Tamil Nadu territory and reaches its destination, the Poondi reservoir, also known as Satyamurthy Sagar. From Poondi, water is distributed through a system of link-canals to other storage reservoirs located at Red Hills, Sholavaram, Chembarambakkam and the treatment plant at Kilpauk.

This project was approved in 1977 after an agreement was reached between Tamil Nadu and the riparian states of Krishna River: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. According to the agreement, each of the three riparian states was to contribute 5 thousand million cubic feet (tmc) of water annually, for a total supply of 15 tmc. This works out to 12 tmc after accounting for seepage and evaporation losses.The water initially supplied by the canal was disappointing, delivering less than 0.5 tmc as the earth embankment along the slopes of the canal collapsed in to the canal restricting water flow. In 2002,Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba announced a great scheme of restoration and lining of the canal to reduce the seepage losses and wastage by entrusting the works to L&T.

Water to Chennai

With an extensive rebuilding of the canal and several reservoirs, the project was completedin a record time of 16 months by L&T in 2004, when Poondi reservoir received the full quantity of Krishna water for the first time. The supply of water to Chennai City in 2006 was 3.7 tmc.The Andhra Pradesh Government, in appreciation and gratitude to Bhagawan rechristened the Kandaleru-Poondi Canal from Telugu Ganga to Sri Sathya Sai Ganga Canal.

The long-suffering residents of Chennai had finally found succour. The Lord had come to their rescue unasked, and showered His bountiful blessings on them. During Bhagawan’s visit to Chennai in January 2007, a grand meeting was organized by the Chennai Citizens’ Conclave in order to express their gratitude to Bhagawan for His munificent gift of water to Chennai through the Sri Sathya Sai Ganga Canal. The meeting held on 21st January, 2007 at Nehru Stadium, Chennai which was packed with people.

Apart from Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, this grand function was attended by the glitterati from Indian political leadership including His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Karunanidhi, His Excellency the Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. S.M.Krishna, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. H.D.Kumaraswamy, Hon’ble Union Minster for Home Affairs, Mr. Shivraj Patil, Hon’ble Union Minister for Railways, Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister for Communications & IT, Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, besides Tamil Nadu State Ministers like Mr. M.K. Stalin, Mr. Durai Murugan, Andhra Pradesh State Ministers including Mrs. Geetha Reddy, Mr. Ponnala Lakshmayya and Mr. Muniyappa.

Top left: ‘Zero-point’ at Poondi reservoir and the state of the canal before the commencement of rebuilding and expansion works. Left bottom: Gabion and random rubble masonry works in progress. Bottom: Completed view of the canal, showing the vast and neat arrangement of revetment works.

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The upland and backward areas of East & West Godavari Districts, which are mainly inhabitated by tribals and economically weaker sections of people, depend mostly on borewells and river streams for their drinking water needs. Even though these people live by the side of Godavari, they are deprived of potable water. Moreover, the borewell water contains rich iron content and the stream / river water is unsafe for drinking due to its high bacterial content. Due to excessive exploitation of ground water, the borewells also dry up in summer months, making people trudge long distances for carrying water.

Thus, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust under the benign guidance of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, decided to provide pure drinking water from assured sources of Godavari river and its tributaries to the water starved people in East and West Godavari Dirstricts.

East Godavari District

For this purpose, two main sources were selected for supplying the raw water. One is river Godavari and the second ‘Pamuleru’, a tributary of Godavari, both of which flows throughout the year. Accordingly, this caters to about 220 habitations covering a population of about 2.30 lakhs, with provision for expansion for another 1.00 lakh population.

Two Schemes

In the East Godavari District two schemes were under implementation. Under Scheme – I, ECC constructed a 6m dia 25m high intake well at Purushottampatnam on the bank of river Godavari and it is installed with vertical turbine pumps, which supplies raw water to the treatment plant (at Purushottampatnam located at a distance of 0.5 km through 400mm dia pipelines.

Top: Intake well at Godavari river, that serves as the source for the drinking water supply project. Right: Inside the pumphouse. Extreme right: Pipeline network.

Godavari Drinking Water Supply Project...Yet another saga from Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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This 10.5 mld treatment plant employs rapid sand filtration method for purification. From here the clear water is pumped to a GLBR of 10.00 lakh litre capacity situated on the top of a hill, from where the water is supplied to the villages, by gravity. Sumps, OHSRs and GLSRs are provided in between for storage and distribution. Intermediate pumping is also provided wherever ‘peaks’ are to be crossed, as the line passes hills and forests. This project provides drinking water to about 90 villages covering a total population of 2.5 Lakhs.

Scheme-II

In the second scheme an intake well was constructed across river ‘Pamuleru’, a tributary of River Godavari, from where raw water is pumped to the treatment plant situated at Kuttravada, located at a distance of 1.4 km.

Here again the 3.5 MLD capacity treatment plant employs rapid sand filtration method and after treatment, the water is supplied to about 150 villages.

Various pipes like AC, HDPE, PVC, GRP, MS etc., are used in the project totaling a length of 405 km. On the occasion of Swamy’s 80th birthday on 23.11.2005, it was commissioned.

West Godavari District

Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply project in the West Godavari District caters to 220 habitations covering a population of about 4.7 lakhs.

In this district the source for the intake well is located at Polavaram village on the bank of river Godavari. Here an intake well of 6m dia and 28m high is built with vertical turbine pumps. The raw water from Polavaram is pumped to the ‘Hukumpeta’ water treatment plant located at a distance of 7.5km

The Hukumpeta water treatment plant has a capacity of 21.75 MLD and it also employs rapid sand filtration method for purification. The purified water is pumped to a GLSR situated on a hillock nearby and from here water is distributed to various villages. Intermediate pumping is also done wherever required.

Various piping materials like GRP, MS, DI, AC, HDPE and PVC are used for transmission of water and the total length of pipeline is laid around 430 kmThe entire work was was completed and commissioned in March 2006.

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What is the unmistakable mark of a wise man? It is Love, Love for all humanity.

Clockwise from left: Clariflocculator in the water treatment plant. Ground level storage reservoir. Interior of the pumphouse.

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Panoramic view of the treatment plant showing the underground reservoir, clariflocculator and pumphouse.

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