A
career spanning decades of struggle, hardships and toil, coupled with the sweet
taste of success achieved through a determined and concerted effort to create a
distinct niche and a vision to grow and prosper, is how one can best describe
the meteoric ascent of Sumit Mittal, currently the Chairman cum Managing
Director of Triveni Infrastructure Development Company.
What started as a very small
organization, catering to contractual construction of larger infrastructure
projects, has now grown multifold, to become a Rs. 3,000 crores conglomerate
with business interests in media, automobiles, financial solutions and
infrastructure development. All this has been possible at TIDCO due to the
focused vision of its Chairman. Elaborating on his business expansion module,
Mr. Mittal states, “Besides just constructions, we are also into other
businesses related to automobiles, finances and coming up media projects which
makes us more versatile and strong. Our exposure in different arenas and
various sectors makes us competent for the future.”
Mr. Sumit Mittal had a humble
beginning. He started his career in the real estate industry in Agra over two
decades ago, and by the time the industry showed a positive ascent, he planned
to promote his own company along with is brother Madhur Mittal. Talking about
his experience gained in the industry, Mr. Sumit Mittal says, “we have gained
intricate expertise and experience in this field through our first hand
exposure to the industry. We have seen the boom, as well as the bust and hence,
know how to deal with any erratic situation.”
Today, at the helm of one of the
upcoming infrastructure development companies North India, Mr. Sumit Mittal
resonates in all humility and makes a light air of his achievements. “Things
have simply fallen into place, the way I have always desired,” he quips, as he
shares how the company has growth over the years.
TIDCO is the youngest baby of the
Triveni Group. It works towards creating quality structures, corporate towers
and integrated residential townships. Currently they are working on one such
township in Faridabad – the Triveni Galaxy, Triveni Signature at Faridabad,
Triveni Heights at Ghaziabad and subsequent luxury villas at Vrindavan –
Triveni Krishna Vatika.
“My vision
of Triveni,” adds Mr. Mittal, “is to create structures that are not just made
of bricks and mortar, but offers an aesthetic value to the owner of that
property. It should have the best of designs, offer the fines of comfort and
convenience and have arrangements for all necessary amenities, which crates an
immense level of satisfaction in the minds of the customers.”
While choosing the sites for
construction, he makes sure that there are enough space for all necessary
amenities like car parking, shopping malls, affiliated schools, clubs etc. He
believes in making homes for people and not mere houses. On this Mr. Mittal
says, “We are not like the conservative Real Estate promoters, the lalas, who
after investing a particular sum of money, quickly finds out the return on
investment. That should not be the business growth plan. In this highly
competive segment, one needs to give to the people what they desire, instead of
thrusting onto them what you want to give them.”
According to Mr. Mittal, “There is no
definition for quality in this Industry, but with TIDCO, we have an opportunity
to create a synergy between technology and quality. These are not mere
promotional statements, but we have done it at Krishna Vatika at Vrindavan. Any
one can take a look around there and give their honest feedback of the quality
of construction and the technology involved for the same.”
As the Chairman of the Triveni Group,
he is equally responsible for the growth of the other group companies, “We
started off as a marginal dealer of automobiles. With time we won the
confidence of bigger automobile players like Maruti Cars and Honda Scooters in
the family consumer category and JCB Construction Machines in the industrial vehicle
category. Today, we have the largest dealerships of all our brands in our
zone.”
A family man to the core, Mr. Mittal
enjoys the company of his dear and near ones, whenever away from his tight
schedules. He does not falter to give full credit for his personal growth o his
wife and children. “I have a special family. By god’s grace, my wife and
children are very accommodating. I feel guilty for not being just to them by
failing to give them my full attention,: laments Mr. Mittal. But whenever in
town, he makes it a point to spend at least 2-3 days at a stretch with his
children. A long drive towards the hills helps the entire family to catch up
with one another.
At the professional end, he gives
credit for the growth of Triveni to the unrelenting efforts put in by his
brother and his business patner, Madhur Mittal. “Madhur has been the driving
force of the organization. It has been Madhur who has pushed me to start off
newer ventures again and again. He is the real entrepreneur” admits Sumit
Mittal resolutely.
Mr. Mittal, like a veteran in the
industry suggests, “I am really pleased with the recent interests shown by the
present government to the real estate industry. I welcome FDI in real estate –
this would help in regularizing the industry and do away with unauthorized
constructions by small time construction companies. This would also allow
bigger companies to consolidate and offer quality products as per international
standards. The rule of the game should be to innovate or perish.”
He feels, “India has a lot of space,
accessibility for home loans, increasing number of corporate offices and
widening concept of nuclear families. All these factors push the demand for
more properties – both residential and commercial.” He also feels that as soon
as this sector is given the identity of an industry, it would help in creating
many more employment, thereby sustaining the livelihood of millions of people
in the country.
An astute entrepreneur that he is, Mr.
Sumit Mittal feels that there are lost more to achieve in life. This is just
the beginning. The biggest challenge would be to take Triveni in the
international market and create a stir amongst established companies the world
over. A long step to be taken though, but with the enthusiasm and fast paced growth
of the industry, the vision sounds realistic and achievable. As Mr. Mittal
prepares to start another day in office, he chants, “Miles to go before I
sleep… Miles to go before I sleep…”
