Dr. Sanjay Agarwal: The Roadmaker of Modern India
India a nation as vast & diverse its infrastructure encompasses more than just steel & concrete, Roads aren’t just corridors; they are commitments – commitments of availability, of advancement, of collective prosperity. & behind most of them, both physically & symbolically stands a name that resonates with respect on either side of boardrooms and construction sites: Dr. Sanjay Agarwal.
With more than 38 years of experience in civil engineering and infrastructure management, Dr. Agarwal has coordinated the construction of more than 5,000 lane kilometres of highway, influenced landmark policy, and guided hundreds of engineers who now spread his philosophy of ethical, visionary development. But his legacy isn’t measured in numbers—it’s in how he’s redefined leadership in one of the nation’s most complicated industries.
To know Dr. Agarwal’s tale is to chart India’s own modern infrastructure story. From the beginnings of industrial growth to the age of hyper-connectivity in the 2000s, he has been witness and builder to the country’s march forward.
The Early Blueprint: Seeds of Purpose
With a keen mind for analysis and a profound understanding of purpose, Sanjay Agarwal pursued Civil Engineering at the esteemed Manipal Institute of Technology, a renowned institution of higher learning. He graduated in 1986, during a period of significant transformation—not only for him but also for India’s economic trajectory. The infrastructure industry was slowly stirring from decades of neglect & regulatory inaction was gradually awakening. For a young man with aspirations of scale & grandeur, this was an opportune moment.
Dr. Agarwal’s formative years were spent working wth IRCON, a public sector entity tasked with large-scale Industrial, transport & energy connectivity projects. He has made significant technical contributions for projects such as the Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory, the railway connection of the Dadri Power Plant, railway bridge muti-span N type steel Girders for steel Giant TISCO in Jamshedpur & Flyover 4 lane 4.0 KM amid urban area of Senen in Jakarta which were technically challenging but logistically complex.
What impressed even in the early days wasn’t only his engineering acumen—it was his vision. He didn’t regard a rail line as a utility. He viewed it as a driver of growth. He didn’t simply optimize workflows—he motivated teams, taught systems thinking, & started shaping the collaborative leadership approach that would define him.
IJM & the Art of Global Execution
Dr. Agarwal made a big leap in 1996—moving to IJM Corporation, a Malaysian multinational with an increasing footprint in Asia. His decision was not merely to construct but to construct to global standards. Tasked by the ambitious Desa Sri Puteri high-rise residential complex in Malaysia, Dr. Agarwal was right at the cutting edge of construction technology. By using the sophisticated Wall and Table Form system—a groundbreaking technique in India then—the country was not just seeing slabs and beams laid down; it was witnessing a cultural change toward automation, accuracy, and world’s best practices.
On his return to India 1999, Dr. Agarwal had a new vision to pursue his career in field of Infrastructure & soon enough, he took charge of varied projects: from BOT roads in AP, Tamil Nadu to construction of integrated townships in Hyderabad, & cable-stayed bridge in Kolkota apart other various Highway projects. His mark was now all over urban and rural India & more significantly, his projects weren’t merely being executed—they were breaking new records in timelines, quality, and sustainability.
They have described the years since then as transformative. “He wasn’t just building infrastructure,” a former engineer remembered. “He was building capability, trust, and a belief in Indian excellence.”
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Founding TUIPL
Whereas others would settle for scaling the corporate ladder, Dr. Agarwal was thinking of something different: autonomy. In 2008, he started Team Universal Infratech Pvt. Ltd. (TUIPL)—a private company that would go on to become one of India’s best managed infrastructure firms which was aptly recognised by CIDC.
The move wasn’t only a professional change. It was a testament to his conviction that visionary leadership must make room for innovation, mentorship, and long-term value creation. During his tenure, TUIPL didn’t merely expand—it flourished. From humble origins, the business expanded exponentially, covering more than 300 professionals and recording revenues of ₹2,200 crore in 12 years.
At TUIPL, Dr. Agarwal was not just a founder but also a cultural builder. He implemented policies to promote gender diversity in engineering positions, introduced safety-first training modules years before they became mandatory, and mentored junior employees one-on-one. Many of these mentees today lead projects of their own throughout India.
Record-Breaking Roads: Solapur–Bijapur Highway
If there is one project that encapsulates the audacity and precision of Dr. Agarwal’s leadership, it is the Solapur–Bijapur Highway.
In 2021, amidst the challenges of the post-COVID economy and a tight delivery window, Dr. Agarwal led a team that laid 25.54 kilometers of four-lane highway in just 17 hours and 45 minutes—a feat that not only entered record books but stunned the global infrastructure community.
Behind the statistics lies a richer story. The achievement required coordinated planning, Team Work & meticulously synchronised supply chain, real-time data integration, and a workforce working across shifts in physically demanding conditions. Dr. Agarwal’s leadership wasn’t just about setting the target—it was about ensuring every cog in the wheel believed they could achieve it.
“It was a masterclass in collective belief,” noted one site manager. “He made us feel like we weren’t just building a road—we were rewriting what Indian engineering could mean.”
Leadership Anchored in Ethics
In an industry usually plagued by cost overruns, delays, and compromises on compliance, Dr. Agarwal has always stood in a singular distinction—he never compromised on ethical leadership.
He is frequently quoted as saying, “Ethics is not a strategy—it’s the foundation. Everything else builds on it.”
This philosophy was never more pronounced than in the time of COVID-19 lockdowns. When thousands of workers got stuck at project locations, Dr. Agarwal ordered groups to deploy not just shelter and food, but also internet access so workers could communicate with families, in-house medical services, and psychiatric counselling. TUIPL was one of the earliest to deliver direct relief kits to rural communities around construction areas—well before regulations caught up.
His moral compass also carried over into the realm of contract negotiations and public-private partnerships. His fairness reputation earned him the role of trusted intermediary among government agencies and private contractors, frequently bridging contentious negotiations with diplomacy & openness.
Sustainability Before It Was Trendy
Well before “green building” became a cliché, Dr. Agarwal had already made it a habit.
It was in the early 2000s when the majority of developers viewed trees as detriments, that he initiated one of India’s initial tree transplantation schemes along national highways—preserving thousands of mature trees that would otherwise have been sacrificed to development.
He advocated for the use of biodiesel-powered machinery, solar-powered site offices, and electronic record-keeping to cut down paper usage. He also proposed dual-lane planning that minimized avoidable land acquisition, hence minimizing environmental disturbance.
His efforts are today admired by environmentalists not only as compliant—but visionary. His philosophy is that infrastructure should never be at the expense of nature, and this has guided hundreds of project designs during his tenure.
The Mentor Beyond Titles
In April 2024, Dr. Agarwal officially retired from his executive role at IJM. But characteristically, he didn’t retire—he revamped.
As Advisor & Director of IJM India Infrastructure Limited, and founder of SA Associate, an advisory platform, Dr. Agarwal has embarked on a new mission: to mentor the next generation of infrastructure leaders.
Through SA Associate, he collaborates closely with construction tech startups, delivers leadership workshops for mid-career engineers, and even consults government think tanks on sustainable transport policy. He also mentors at his alma mater, Manipal, where he sponsors scholarships to disadvantaged youth studying engineering.
His own style of mentorship is integrated. “Leadership isn’t technical skill or domain knowledge,” he maintains. “It’s emotional intelligence, ethics, and the power to inspire trust.”
A Human-Centered Approach to Infrastructure
Maybe what sets Dr. Agarwal apart is his absolute commitment to the people side of infrastructure. Talk to those who have worked with him—from machine operators to top executives—and one hears a consistent refrain: he listens.
He listens to suggestions. He listens to fears. And he responds with a singular combination of compassion and precision.
He is renowned for spontaneous on-site visits, eating meals with employees, holding direct conversations on safety, and acknowledging team achievements publicly. These gestures might appear minor, but they’ve helped foster a culture in which staff feel noticed, valued, and inspired.
One of his past HR directors said: “He didn’t just manage people—he elevated them.”
A Legacy Still in Motion
India’s future infrastructure aspirations are enormous—green highways, EV-capable roads, smart logistics corridors & more. But with this new era, such leaders as Dr. Sanjay Agarwal aren’t just important—they are crucial.
Among his current projects are promoting public-private cooperation for the development of border roads, experimenting with modular techniques in highway construction, and actively participating in national discussions on transit-oriented development.
Yet when asked what he considers his greatest achievement, he doesn’t mention records or revenues. He simply says, “It’s the people I’ve had the privilege to grow with.”
Final Reflections: A Road Well Traveled
In an arena where projects can take center stage, Dr. Sanjay Agarwal’s legacy stands out as being something other than the norm. His tale is not one of publicity-driven titles or loud proclamations. It is one of unassuming resolve, persistent excellence, and a conviction that India is worthy of world-class infrastructure constructed in the best possible manner.
He has constructed roads—but above all, he has constructed a philosophy: that leadership is service, that growth is sustainable, & that success is collective.
With India charting its course towards a $5 trillion economy, the journey ahead could be long—but thanks to visionaries such as Dr. Agarwal, it will be paved with intent, precision, and pride.
