On 3rd September, the LLM students of Construction Law and Arbitration programme undertook a construction project site visit to Tumkur. The project involves the construction of gravity canals and aqueducts, both at an elevated corridor and on a huge water reservoir. (VJNL’s Yettinahole Project, being executed by BSR Infratech India Limited to provide water supply to drought prone districts near Tumkur)
The visit was a vital component of the experiential learning approach followed in this unique postgraduate program. The study tour was organised by Professor Venkataraghavan to provide students with practical familiarity with live construction projects and their legal dimensions. The visit was aimed at bridging classroom knowledge with real-world applications in construction law, project management, and dispute resolution.
The highlight of the tour was the interactive session led by Mr. Sachindra S. Bhat, Senior Vice President of BSR Infratech India Ltd, along with the company’s project management team. Key areas covered included:
· Building materials used in large-scale water infrastructure projects
· Construction technologies, with special focus on underwater piling
· The role of MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) services
· Construction contract procurement and commercial aspects
· Contract administration practices followed by BSR
The BSR team shared practical insights on how such issues are managed within contractual frameworks and highlighted the role of arbitration in resolving disputes efficiently.
Adding further value to the visit, Advocate Anupam Raj, an alumnus of Manipal Law School (Class of 2024 LLM CLA) who is currently working with BSR as a legal and Contract advisor, accompanied the MLS cohorts. His presence inspired the current batch, as he shared his professional journey and demonstrated the career pathways available for young lawyers specialising in the emerging construction law discipline.
The study tour to Tumkur was an intellectually stimulating and practically enriching experience, allowing our cohorts to witness the complexities of a mega infrastructure project directly connecting our classroom knowledge of construction law and arbitration with real-world realities.
