Mr. Saurabh Sharma from DMRC bags Urban Infra Tunneling Man of the Year award at 5th Urban Infra Leadership Awards 2025

New Delhi, India: In a prestigious recognition of his outstanding contributions to India's urban tunneling and metro infrastructure sector, Mr. Saurabh Sharma, Joint General Manager at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC), was conferred with the “Urban Infra Tunneling Man of the Year” award at the 5th Urban Infra Leadership Awards 2025. The honour was presented during the RailTrans Expo 2025, held on 26th–27th June 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, organised by Urban Infra Group.

Recognising Excellence in Underground Metro Infrastructure

Mr. Saurabh Sharma’s recognition reflects his long-standing dedication and excellence in the field of tunneling, underground construction, and metro rail engineering. With deep technical knowledge and a strategic approach to complex underground projects, Mr. Sharma has been instrumental in shaping several critical phases of Delhi Metro's underground corridors — from feasibility planning and design management to execution and delivery.

At DMRC, one of Asia's most advanced and respected metro rail authorities, Mr. Sharma has led and supervised various high-stake tunneling assignments using techniques such as Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), and Cut & Cover methodology, ensuring safety, cost-effectiveness, and timely project delivery in some of the most challenging urban environments.

Technical Leadership in Complex Urban Tunneling

Urban tunneling is a highly specialised engineering domain requiring a delicate balance between design efficiency, ground conditions, urban sensitivity, and structural safety. Mr. Sharma’s hands-on leadership in managing such high-precision tunneling operations has been key to the successful expansion of Delhi Metro’s extensive underground network.

He has worked closely with multi-disciplinary teams of consultants, engineers, and international technology partners to implement state-of-the-art tunneling methods, real-time geotechnical monitoring, and automated risk control systems in densely populated areas with limited surface disruption — contributing significantly to India's underground mobility solutions.

His approach combines engineering precision with sustainable urban development, ensuring that large-scale tunneling works are executed with minimum ecological and community impact.

Shaping India's Urban Mobility Through Underground Innovation

Mr. Sharma’s contribution goes beyond technical execution — he is also known for mentoring young professionals, implementing best practices in safety compliance, and promoting knowledge exchange through technical workshops and professional forums. His efforts have elevated DMRC’s tunneling projects as benchmarks for other metro systems across India and Asia.

Under his leadership, many tunnel sections of Delhi Metro have not only been delivered ahead of schedule but also with outstanding safety records and operational performance, demonstrating his ability to align engineering excellence with project management efficiency.

Honouring Individual Excellence in Infrastructure Development

The Urban Infra Leadership Awards were instituted to honour exceptional individuals and organisations leading India’s transformation in urban infrastructure, mobility, and engineering. The recognition of Mr. Saurabh Sharma as Urban Infra Tunneling Man of the Year is a tribute to his technical expertise, leadership skills, and unwavering commitment to building world-class underground infrastructure in India.

His contribution underpins the broader mission of delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient metro connectivity for millions of daily commuters — a cornerstone of India’s urban future.