Projects for Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust

* Sathya (truth) * Dharma (righteousness) * Santhi (peace) * Prema (divine love) * Ahimsa (nonviolence)
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Om Sri Sai Ram
Dedicated to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
on his 85th birthday - November 23, 2010
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In Service Lies Success
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 HolckLarsen, 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
Spectrum of Divine Construction
20 Landmark Years in Sai Service
A brief on Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust
Prasanthi Nilayam
Swami’s Style of Project Management
Perspectives of Divine Construction
Dwellings for the devotees
Hanuman Statue
Sri Sathya Sai Airport
Canteen Buildings
Boys’ Hostel
Hill View Stadium
Sai Kulwant Hall
Shopping Centre
Book Trust Building
Music College
School of Dance and Music
Sri Pedda Venkamaraju Kalyana Mandapam
Kalyana Mandapam, Hyderabad
Chaitanya Jyothi
Super Specality Hospital, Prasanthigram
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Whitefield
Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports
B-School for Women at Anantapur
Sai Bhaktha Nivas
Prasanthi Tower, Muddenahalli
University College Campus, Muddenahalli
Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Projects
Sathya Sai Ganga Canal
Godavari Drinking Water Supply Project
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20 Landmark Years in Sai Service...
Historic Anecdotes
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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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.
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.
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
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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. Airconditioning, 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
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.
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 designand-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
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.
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)
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
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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
Sri Sathya Sai International
Centre at Delhi, constructed
by L&T.
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 worldclass 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
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
16
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
(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 Bhavantu
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
A. Ramakrishna
Former President and Deputy Managing Director
Larsen & Toubro Limited
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.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba...
An apostle of love and
peace
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.
18
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:
• Infinite knowledge of all subjects, expresses
itself spontaneously
• An ocean of wisdom – the knower of the
past, present and the future (he narrates with
incredible details events of past, present and
future)
• Always giving - merciful and eternally
benevolent
• Infinite patience and forbearance
• Always cheerful and helping anyone and
everyone
• Youthful and radiant body belying the physical
age of 85
• Preserver and protector of all
• Embodiment of eternal divine love
• Beyond comparison and comprehension
• Being everywhere and in everything
• Imperceptible and independent
• Creator and performer of miracles and
materialisation of almost everything
conceivable
• Knower of all minds and hearts
• Omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient • Infinite power and infinite bliss
• Ideal guru/teacher
• Powerful speaker with capacity to explain
intricate meta physical aspects with simple
examples understood by common people
• Perfectionist in everything he does
• Unifier and integrator of all castes, 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.
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
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
20
Prasanthi Nilayam
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
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.
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi, 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
22
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.
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
24
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:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sri
Sri
Sri
Sri
Sri
Sri
Sathya
Sathya
Sathya
Sathya
Sathya
Sathya
Sai
Sai
Sai
Sai
Sai
Sai
Rural Service & Education Programme
Education Programme
Youth Programme
Drinking Water Programme
‘Health for All’ Programme
– ‘Balavikas’ Programme
Prasanthi Nilayam...
The Abode of Peace
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.
26
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.
Life is a challenge,
meet it!
Life is a dream,
realise it!
Life is a game,
play it!
Life is Love,
enjoy it!
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 highlevel surveillance and security.
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.
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.
28
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.
30
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:
•
•
•
•
There
There
There
There
is
is
is
is
only
only
only
only
ONE
ONE
ONE
ONE
caste, the caste of humanity
religion, the religion of Love
language, the language of the heart
God, and He is omnipresent
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.
32
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.
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.
Structures and facilities inside the Prasanthi
Nilayam Complex (Clockwise from top)
Western Canteen
Yazur Mandir – Swami’s residence
Library building
IT building
The Book Trust Building
34
36
Top: Overall view of Prasanthi
Nilayam Complex as seen from the
Kalpakavriksha.
Bottom: The abodes for devotees
follow a simplistic design.
You must welcome tests
because it gives you
confidence and it ensures
promotion.
Swami’s Style of Project Management...
Unity, Purity, Divinity (UPD) approach to construction
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! Wonderstruck, 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.
38
(Clockwise from top)
Lord Ganesha
Lotus Stupa
The brass antique of the lion and
Nataraja – the dancing Shiva,
characteristic of Hindu mythology
are on display at most of the
building entrances.
40
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.
Architecture of buildings
abound with an array
domes, pyramids and
gopurams.
Small minds select narrow
roads; expand your mental
vision and take to the broad
road of helpfulness,
compassion and service.
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.
42
Every experience that is
drawn through any of the
senses has an effect on
one’s health.
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.
44
The Chaitanya Jyothi – a fusion of
many cultures and architectural
styles.
46
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.
Perspectives of Divine Construction
Dwellings for the devotees
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.
48
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 loadbearing walls with RC slabs spanning between the RC walls.
50
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.
Devotees are accommodated in
these homely dwelling units.
52
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
54
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 ‘readyto-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.
56
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.
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 waterfall
As 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.
Sri Sathya Sai Airport ...
Welcoming the guests with warmth
Puttaparthi 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.
58
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
Meeting the culinary needs of everyone
South Indian Food Canteen
The two-storied canteen caters to 2000
people at a time. It covers a total builtup 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 builtup area of the building is 3000 sq.m.
This building caters to the tastes of all
North Indians.
Clockwise from right: Circular
staircase. North and South
Indian Canteen. Inset : The
Western Canteen.
60
Boys’ Hostel...
Building trust and character
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 provides accommodation for
students studying in different schools and
colleges (Sri Sathya Sai University) at Prasanthi
Nilayam.
62
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.
64
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.
66
Sai Kulwant Hall... For transcending the mind
68
The intricately decorated center stage of Sai Kulwant Hall.
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
70
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.
Shopping Centre...
Where you can shop
till you drop
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).
The uniquely designed columns give a
characteristic feel to the Centre thereby
giving the shoppers a great experience.
72
The Book Trust building – an
architectural delight and a treasure
house of knowledge.
74
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.
The unique architectural creation merges
with the natural environs and ground
profile. Right: Entrance porch and
different views of the interiors.
76
Music College... Nurturing classical
singers, musicians and artists
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.
78
80
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.
School of Dance and
Music
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 end of knowledge is love.
The end of culture is perfection.
The end of wisdom is freedom.
82
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.
Sri Pedda
Venkamaraju
Kalyana Mandapam
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.
Named after Swami’s father,
the Kalyana Mandapam
is used for conducting
weddings and receptions.
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.
Enriching the Monumental
Beauty of Hyderabad
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.
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.
84
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)
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
86
Interior view of the octagonal shape
auditorium showing the seating, balcony,
radial beams of the roof shells and the
compression ring in the center.
Chaitanya Jyothi... Redefining the design
and construction experience
88
The magnificent Chaitanya Jyothi with its
rapturous design and outstanding construction
features.
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.
90
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.
92
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.
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.
94
Chinese roof with gothic
arches and titanium domes on
either side.
Right: Aesthetically designed
arch windows and facades.
96
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.
98
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 18 th
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
Super Specality Hospital, Prasanthigram...
Providing the Healing Touch
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.
100
102
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.
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
The entrance gate
from the road Top: The
beautiful landscaping
and horticulture work.
104
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
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.
106
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.
108
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.
110
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.
The enchanting front view of the hospital with
statue of Lord Dhanvantri – God of Medicine.
112
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Medical Sciences, Whitefield...
An engineering marvel
114
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.
116
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:
• 330 beds and 12 operating theatres
• Treatment for cardiac illnesses as also Cardio-Thorasic
Vascular Surgery, Neuro Surgery.
• Training for nurses and para-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
The Architects for the Project are :
Ravi Associates, Bangalore
Sai Architects, New Delhi
Mr. 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
Operation
Theatres
For Cardiac
Department
For Neurology
Department
8
4
Cath Lab
4
1
Post OP ICU Beds
45
30
Caronary Care Beds
45
Neurology
ICU Ward Beds
10
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.
118
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 :
Date of completion of work :
Value of work
:
September 1999
October 2000
Rs. 64 crores
Quantity of Works
Excavation incl. Grading
Concrete
Form Work
Reinforcement
Block work
Plastering Waterproofing Flooring/Wall Cladding :
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
1,19,000 cu.m
30,600 cu.m
1,13,500 sq.m
3,100 tons
47,500 sq.m
99,500 sq.m
6,050 sq.m
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 heavyduty 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
120
A master piece from the master
builder – Larsen & Toubro.
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.
122
The central atrium is a celebration of light both
natural and from the ornate chandelier.
Left Bottom: Ornamentally carved wooden
handrail.
124
State-of-the-heart hospital showing
different facilities and sophisticated
medical equipment installed to cure
and care.
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.
126
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:
• Tennis complex having four hard
courts with synthetic top.
• Two Squash courts.
• Yoga cum Aerobics Centre.
• A hall for Gymnasium cum Health
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.
128
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.
130
Well lit interior of the games hall with the
playing arena and seating gallery.
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.
132
Inside view of the octogonal shaped display centre
with shell roof and compression ring.
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
134
Different views of the
state-of-the-art indoor
stadium built to Olympic
standards.
B-School for Women at Anantapur...
An elite school of business management
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.
136
Architectural and Design Parameter
This building has been designed and built:
• To place the structure closer to the main highway with a
wide frontage.
• As a ground plus two storied structure with two wings
having a grand entrance with a reception hall in the center
of the building
• As a modular structure with modern grid system
• To provide easy connectivity to all levels through broad
staircases at vantage points
• To provide a comprehensive and efficiently loaded single
corridor for heavy movement
• With the natural flooring materials to take care of the wear
and tear and easy maintenance
• With large windows and wide doors for good ventilation
and easy circulation
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. Vishwanath Pandit, Former Vice-Chancellor,
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Vidyagiri,
Prasanthi Nilayam
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.
Prof. J. Shashidhara Prasad, Vice-Chancellor,
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
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.
Areas
Ground Floor
First Floor
Second Floor
Total
Sq.m
1105
975
975
3087 sq.m
Sq.ft
11894
10495
10495
33229 sq.ft
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.
Panoramic view of the ‘B’ school for women.
This 33,000 sq.ft building is designed for an
intake of 120 students per year.
138
Sai Bhaktha Nivas...
For more influx and added comforts
140
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.
142
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.
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.
Surrendering the fruit of
action to the Lord
is real sacrifice.
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.
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.
144
Major items of work
Precast elements
• Floor rib slabs
• Roof Shell elements • Staircase segments
Structural
• Concrete
• Shuttering
• Reinforcement
Architectural
• Solid Block masonry
• Plastering
• Flooring & dado
• Painting
-
-
-
800 Nos
206 Nos
60 Nos
-
-
-
3380 cu.m
23190 sq.m
600 tons
-
-
-
-
16980
35420
39230
58800
sq.m
sq.m
sq.m
sq.m
Prasanthi Tower, Muddenahalli...
Reaching high into the sky and
keeping the time of the village
146
Prasanthi Tower - an elevated landmark on a
landscaped hillock.
An iconic clock tower structure for Bhagawan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba has been built by Sri Sathya
Sai Central Trust at Muddhenahalli in Chickaballapur 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 building is already the most notable or visible landmark 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 diameter in order to be visible from a long distance.
Rising high into the sky, the clock tower emanates 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 hillock 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 geometrical forms – a combination of circles, squares,
covered with conical folded plate roof, all symbolizing 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.
148
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.
150
There is only one religion, the religion of
Love; There is only one language, the
language 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.
152
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.
154
154
The 8m wide circular ramp has been built
with twin columns cantilevering circumferentially 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.
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.
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.
156
Clock Tower Features
Diameter of the clock dial :
Number of faces
:
Dial Architecture
:
Movement :
GPS Receiver unit
:
Working power
:
3.6 m dia. each
4 (Four Sided Tower clock)
Acrylic white sheet dial with black vinyl cut Roman numerals
from I to XII along with minute markings
Stepper motor driven brass gear movement enclosed in a weather proof and anti-corrosive aluminum die-cast metal box.
Clock features a GPS receiver to receive time signals from the satellite (no manual time-setting required)
230 Volts AC single hhase electric power with stand-by
battery power
University College Campus,
Muddenahalli... set amidst majestic
hills and bounty of nature
158
160
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 Secondary 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 Muddenahalli 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, designed and built with future expansion closer to the existing campus at
Muddenahalli.
Consisting of a rectangular ground plus two storied structure, the college 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 structure. This dome architecture gives a magnanimous look representing
high standard institutional character.
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.
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 provides 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.
The captivating view from the
corridors of knowledge-power,
showing the entrance dome on the
left and the central courtyard on the
right.
162
164
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.
Different views of University
College Campus.
166
Water For All...
To quench the thirst
168
Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Projects
Coverage: Three Districts - 1051 villages - 10.8 million
people
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 of
Government 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 by
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Construction of
this massive project was entrusted to ECC.
Overhead water reservoir at
Anantapur
170
Water treatment plant at
Penna Ahobilam Balancing
Reservoir, which covers 93
villages in Kalyandurg and
Atmakur.
172
Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project at Anantapur
consists of four schemes:
• Comprehensive Protected Water Supply Schemes
involving 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.
• Direct pumping from Penna Ahobilam Balancing
Reservoir (PABR) and treatment through
rapid sand filtration system. This consists of two
major lines passing through Kalyandurg and
Atmakur covering 93 villages.
• Comprehensive Protected Water Supply Schemes
(CPWS) through seven summer storage tanks ranging upto 100 acres by tapping water from Tungabhadra High Level Canal, covering 97 villages. Water
Treatment Plant at PABR for Sri Sathya Sai Water
Supply Project at Anantapur
• The Protected Water Supply (PWS) Scheme covers 279 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.
174
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 work
with a unity of purpose and harmony
of thought. Significant features that
characterise the uniqueness of this
project include:
• The stringent time frame
• The vast magnitude
• Project cost funded by a charitable
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.
176
178
Clockwise from top left: A typical 1.5 lakh
litre capacity overhead water storage
reservoir.
Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir (PABR)
Pumphouse.
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.
180
Salient Features
• Laying of more than 2000 km of AC, CI, DI, MS and PVC pipelines of
different diameters ranging from 80 mm to 600 mm
• Construction of 43 sumps from 1 lakh to 25 lakh litre capacity
• Construction of 18 balancing reservoirs at the top of hillocks with
capacities ranging from 3 lakh to 10 lakh litres
• Construction of 270 overhead reservoirs ranging from 40,000 litres to
3,00,000 litres capacity
• 125 ground level reservoirs ranging from 20,000 litres to 80,000 litres
capacity
• Installation of more than 1500 precast concrete cisterns of 2500 litres
capacity, with provision for four taps per cistern
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
182
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.
184
Clockwise from left: Overhead
Storage Reservoir at Medak.
Close up view of the intake well.
An intake well in the reservoir.
186
PROJECT
HIGHLIGHTS
Anantapur
Medak and Mahabubnagar
Villages covered : 731 nos.
Population served : 9.50 lakhs
Design Population : 15 lakhs
No. of PWS Schemes : 279 nos.
No. of CPWS Schemes : 21 nos
Major CPWS Schemes : 4 nos
Trunk Line covered : 750 km
Branch 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 nos
Booster Stations : 40 nos
Summer Storage Tanks : 07 nos
Infiltration Wells : 13 nos
Bore Wells : 250 nos
Population served : 1.30 Million
CPWS in Mahabubnagar : 94 Villages
CPWS in Medak : 157 Villages
Individual PWS Schemes : 70 Villages
Infiltration / Intake wells :
13 nos (3 m to 5 m dia and 22 m dia depth)
OHSR / OHBR : 25 nos
GLSR / GLBR : 18 nos
Sumps : 54 nos
Pump Houses : 38 nos
Conventional 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)
188
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.
190
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.
Sathya Sai Ganga Canal...
Telugu Ganga Project
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:
• Improvement works of Kandaleru Reservoir
• Grouting works of Kandaleru Reservoir cutoff wall
• Easening of slopes at Approach Channel and Sai Ganga
Canal
• Concrete lining in Sai Ganga Canal at vulnerable locations
• Construction of Escapes & Regulators at three different
locations
• Other miscellaneous structures and improvements
The major items of plant & machinery deployed at various
locations were:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
192
Batching Plant of varying capacity (9 to 36 cu.m) - 9 nos.
Transit Mixers - 39 nos.
Concrete Paver with rails - 19 nos.
Road Rollers (10 Ton) - 10 nos.
Vibromax - 07 nos.
Power Generator (25 to 125 kVA) - 41 nos.
Compressor with all accessories - 15 nos.
Rock Breaker - 03 nos.
Wagon Drill - 03 nos.
Excavator (one with 14m long boom) - 19 nos.
Tippers - 70 nos.
Improvements at Kandaleru Dam
The job involved the following major works:
• Rough stone revetment of 70,000 cu.m. of size
varying from 225 mm to 450 mm on slopes
1.5:1, height varying from 20 m to 46 m
• Escape regulators on the Sai Ganga Approach
Canal No. 22
• Laying of 0.5 mm thick geotextile filter media 13,800 sq.m.
• 4,000 cu.m of Gabion placed along the length
and across to form panel walls and protect
the revetment stones from the wave forces of
water
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.
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 portion
wherever 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.
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, soft
disintegrated 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
194
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.m
Hard rock : 38,000 cu.m
Guniting : 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 to
avoid the impact load of water when the Regulators are
opened. Major works involved were:
Excavation in all types of soil : 60,000 cu.m
Hard rock : 40,000 cu.m
Guniting : 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.
Left: Gabion and stone revetment
works done at the Kandaleru Dam.
Bottom: Close-up view of the
revetment work.
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.m
Filling with Gravel : 5,00,000 cu.m
Lining : 1,75,000 cu.m
Guniting : 1,70,000 sq.m
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.
Easening of slopes & excavation in bed : 30000 cu.m
Stone masonry : 7500 cu.m
Well point dewatering : 120000 HP Hrs
Miscellaneous Improvements
Revetment in Canal
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.
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
In the canal for about 1.00 km at the flume portion the
deposited silt was saturated with subsoil water upto
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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:
concrete (1:2:4) and guniting. Major
quantity of works involved were:
Stone masonry - 5,000 cu.m
Rough 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.
from heavy erosion and deposition of silt
by cement lining, guniting, stone
masonry and rough stone revetment on
the high embankment Major quantity of
works involved were:
Lining - 10,500 cu.m
Guniting - 10,000 sq.m
Stone masonry - 2,000 cu.m
Rough 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
• Usage of polypropylene sheet (geotextile) as filter media under dam
revetment
• Usage of gabions (as renomatress) for
revetment / panel wall
• Usage of high density polyethylene
sheets as water tight membrane under cement concrete lining
• Grouting of dam cutoff wall for a
depth of 75.00 m
• Guniting works with weldmesh reinforcement and rock bolting
• Pressure relief valves using porous
concrete cylinders (plugs), perforated
HDPE pipes surrounded with polypropylene sheet.
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
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.
Water to Chennai
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.
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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.
Godavari Drinking Water Supply Project...
Yet another saga from Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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.
200
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.
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.
West Godavari District
Scheme-II
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.
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.
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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
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 km
The entire work was was completed and
commissioned in March 2006.
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.
Panoramic view of the treatment plant
showing the underground reservoir,
clariflocculator and pumphouse.
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