Shashank Shekhar Jha has over 30 years of experience working in different capacities at various subsidiaries of Coal India Limited, such as Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI). Throughout his career, Jha has been involved in the planning and construction of townships, including building works as well as water supply and sewerage networks. He has also been involved in road construction and the construction/installation works required for mobile in-pit crushing and belt conveyor systems, as well as the construction of bridges over running conveyors for the transportation of haul packs/dumpers at the Piparwar open-cast mine.
A key current target of his is the commissioning of the Shivpur-Kathautia New BG rail line (49.08 km), alongside various other railway sidings linked with first mile connectivity projects and washery projects for CCL.
As per Jha, “India’s infrastructure industry is set to undergo substantial expansion as a result of government support, technical breakthroughs and economic goals. The main criteria will be water management, net-zero goals, green infrastructure and sustainability. Key focus areas include automation, use of drones, artificial intelligence and building information modelling for project planning, monitoring and maintenance; and expansion of rail infrastructure, such as bullet trains and automated systems for logistics and transportation. Additionally, the National Highway Development Project is being expanded, with an emphasis on expressways for faster connectivity; and dedicated freight corridors are being developed to streamline coal and goods transport, and reduce reliance on roads. Public-private partnerships are gaining traction for large-scale projects. Sizeable investments are coming in for wind, solar and hybrid energy projects to meet the expanding electricity needs. These factors point to a promising future for India’s infrastructure sector”.
Jha’s management style is based on proactive planning, team collaboration and a problem-solving approach. Further, he encourages open communication. According to him, technical expertise and leadership qualities are vital to ensure the success of rail infrastructure projects while maintaining safety, efficiency and accountability. Jha prioritises meticulous planning and scheduling to ensure all phases of construction adhere to timelines, safety requirements and financial limits. He is a civil engineer from the erstwhile Bihar College of Engineering, Patna (now NIT Patna). In his free time, he likes to travel and spend quality time with his family.