In Conversation with Nilesh Jobanputra Managing Director, Jayant Infratech Limited

Nilesh Jobanputra Managing Director, Jayant Infratech Limited

With the present government’s focus on improving infrastructure, the railway sector is ready to embark on an ambitious expansion plan. This will be of advantage for Jayant Infratech, as stated by the company’s Managing Director, Nilesh Jobanputra

What is your outlook on the railway sector in India?
I would say that the outlook is very bright. Indian Railways has the largest network in the world but unfortunately 60 per cent of it is old and outdated. The average speed of trains today is 20 km per hour. New lines have been added but it has resulted in voltage drop. These factors, fortunately, indicate revamp of the existing infrastructure.

How does Jayant Infratech stand to benefit from the capital expansion happening in the railways sector?
Our gain lies in the fact that the Ministry of Railways has decided to implement various improvements as mentioned hereunder. All these factors will demand huge investments and we are aiming for a fair share of the pie. In short, our growth lies in the expansion of Indian Railways. n Average speed to be improved from 20 km per hour to 110 km per hour. n Loading capacity for goods train, which is currently 1,400 MT, is to be increased to 3,000 MT. n Additional electrical infrastructure of 2 x 25 KV in the form of feeder line to compensate the voltage drop. 

How has the listing on the SME platform helped Jayant Infratech grow?
Obviously it has infused the much required capital to grow but more than that the very enthusiasm of our shareholders has injected in the veins of our company a heavy dose of adrenaline. It is this aspect of listing which is contributing to propelling the growth of the company. 

What are your growth triggers and what is your vision and mission statement?
We strive towards satisfying our customers and all the more delighting our shareholders. Wealth generation is definitely a motto but simultaneously reducing carbon footprint by energising motion through cleaner forms of energy has always been our mission. Currently we are focused on energising rolling motion, especially railways. But we are exploring possibilities of energising highways too with clean forms of energy

What are your expansion plans and what are the risks facing your business?
As of now we are focussed only on the electrification aspect of the Indian Railways. In time to come we are planning to venture into the signalling and engineering verticals of the railways either through the joint venture route or mergers. As far as the risk factor is concerned, our business is directly dependent on the policies of the central government. The present government is very much focused on the improvement of infrastructure and that has been a boon to companies like ours. A new ruling entity may or may not be congenial to growth.