Anand Sundaresan, Director, Ammann India, received the Equipment India Lifetime Achievement Award 2025, as
the hall rose and gave him a standing ovation. For an industry that has seen
him steer organisations, inspire teams, and raise standards, this moment was
more than recognition—it was gratitude.
Sundaresan’s acceptance struck a chord with warmth and
humility: “I accept it with pride and dedicate it to my family, colleagues, and
the entire construction industry. This award doesn’t mean I’m hanging up my
boots just yet—Tiger abhi bhi zinda hai!”
Adding poignancy to the tribute was a video message
from VG Sakthikumar, Chairman and MD, Schwing Stetter India, who has worked
closely with Sundaresan during his tenure there. Sakthikumar reflected on
Sundaresan’s vision, leadership, and contribution—a testament to a career that
has touched not just companies, but the entire ecosystem.
If Sundaresan represented continuity, Vivekanand
Vanmeeganathan, MD, Caterpillar India, represented the promise of the
future. Named Equipment India Person of the Year 2025, Vanmeeganathan was
celebrated for his leadership in steering one of the industry’s global giants
through India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure landscape.
Framing the larger picture, Pratap Padode, Founder and
Editor-in-Chief, ASAPP Info Global, reminded the audience of the urgency to
innovate: “The use of technology has risen sharply, and government mandates are
further accelerating adoption. India must strengthen its own technological
base. The talent and experience exist—now it must be channelled into innovation.”
Padode put out the case for debating the use of autonomous construction
equipment to counter lack of skill and to enhance productivity.
Building on this future outlook, Sandeep
Singh, MD, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery, delivered the keynote
address on the construction equipment panel. He laid out the roadmap for the
industry’s evolution—touching on automation, sustainability, and
digitalisation—and urged players to align with the government’s ambitious
infrastructure push.
More than Awards!
The Equipment India Awards also honoured innovation
and sustainability across categories, with winners like Ajax Engineering,
Premier Heavy Lift, Tata Hitachi, Bonfiglioli, Schwing Stetter, LiuGong India,
Case and JCB India among others. Yet, beyond the trophies, what resonated most
was the sense of collective pride in how far the CE industry has come—and how
much further it must go.
The RAHSTA Awards followed, recognising excellence in
roads, highways, and transport projects. These honours celebrated the unsung
heroes of connectivity—the organisations and policymakers reshaping India’s
mobility landscape.
Adding depth to the festival was the Japan–India Road
Engineering Seminar, where Praveensingh Pardeshi, Chief Economic
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and CEO, MITRA, addressed
future-ready policies and collaborations. Officials from MMRDA and MMRCL added
weight to the dialogue, anchoring international exchange in local
transformation.
The conference included sessions on Greening and
Future-Proofing India’s Roads and explored recycled materials, EV-ready
corridors, and intelligent machinery as tools for sustainable mobility, while
the Building India @2047 panel examined how advanced equipment, digital
integration, and policy alignment will shape India’s $30 trillion economic
journey.
