Shasank Agarwal is managing director of Salasar Techno Engineering Limited, a company that began as a tower manufacturer and has now graduated to a complete EPC solutions provider for a range of industries including power, renewables, railway electrification and renewables. An engineer by education, Agarwal has a diverse experience of over 30 years, and is a founding director of the company.
Sharing his perspective on the current state of the power sector, Agarwal says, “The sector is on a high-growth path. Although operations took a hit during the initial lockdown and the Covid-19 second wave as well, work is quickly returning to normal with the government focusing on the completion of projects.” Apart from focusing on transmission and distribution projects, there is a huge push by the government to control power losses, which has opened up new opportunities for transmission grid monitoring and smart metering, he adds.
Under Agarwal’s leadership, the company has successfully executed a number of projects. Recently, in May 2021, it secured a project worth Rs 2.4 billion from Power Grid Corporation of India, entailing the construction of a 201 km transmission line and four substations in Arunachal Pradesh. Delighted with this development, Agarwal remarks, “We are proud to receive this project from Powergrid. It aligns with our continued effort to contribute to the growth of India’s dynamic infrastructure sector.” Notably, Salasar has successfully executed similar projects for UPPCL, HVPNL, PTCUL, HPPTCL and other government entities in the past few years. Additionally, the company is executing a similar project in Assam to support the government’s vision of developing the north-eastern states.
For Agarwal, the journey of building Salasar from scratch to where it is today has been a hugely satisfying one; full of challenges yet remarkable. He strives for the company to provide and maintain the best quality of products and services in the industry, one that is known and appreciated for its commitment. He is always on the lookout for opportunities for further growth. With his strong resolve and sharp marketing acumen, he makes sure that Salasar’s stakeholders get the returns they deserve. “Bringing the IPO for the company in 2017 was probably my most memorable experience,” he remarks.
Agarwal describes himself as a hands-on person, leading from the front. He admires and follows the works of Osho and enjoys playing golf in his leisure time.