Gannon Dunkerley & Company
Encyclopedia
Gannon Dunkerley & Company Limited (GDCL) is a civil engineering
construction
company based in New Delhi
, India
.
Dunkerley & Co., In 1924, it was incorporated as a Private Limited Company and the change in management to Indian
hands took place in 1946. It was converted into a Public Limited Company in 1948.
Originally, the Company's activities were mainly in trading. Gradually Gannon’s diversified into Civil Engineering in the early
thirties. Several bridges in South India including R.C.C. Bowstring girder bridges with own in-house design were constructed
by this Company, as also aqueducts, civil engineering works for irrigation and hydro-electric projects, water works and
factory buildings. The first ghat road to Tirupathi Hill was also constructed by this Company.
During the Second World War, the Company built several air fields and runways on emergency basis completing all in a very
short period. The Company pioneered in pre-cast R.C.C. construction in the early 1940s. When the concept of pre-stressed
concrete came into vogue, Gannon Dunkerley was one of the earliest in India to adopt and translate this into practice. In the
mid 1950’s, the Company designed and constructed several pre-stressed concrete bridges, including the first in the Western
Railways and Central Railways zones.
From 1950 onwards, Civil Engineering constructions became the main thrust in the business of the Company. During this
period, it constructed several prestigious buildings and completed other projects. From seventies, the main thrust went to
industrial projects. Gannon started its Mechanical Engineering Division in the mid fifties to undertake fabrication, erection of
structural steel work, piping, as also erection of equipment for various industrial projects and successfully executed a
number of such projects.
Going forward, the Company diversified into Water & Effluent Treatment in mid seventies. Considering modernization of
Indian Railways, it established a Pre-stressed Concrete Sleeper Plant in 1990 at Rayagada (Orissa).
At the beginning of 21st century, the Company re-entered the Infrastructure Sector, taking up a number of projects for
construction of Highways, Railways, Bridges and Flyovers.
In line with its policy, the Company has diversified into Real Estate sector in 2007.
Company undertaking construction of Engineering
projects for both public and Private sector clients. Indian
economy like Chinese economy is a rapidly growing
economy of the world with an annual growth rate of 8%
to 10%. This calls for rapid development in both
infrastructure and industrial fields. To cater for
infrastructure development of
Roads & Highways, Railways, Airports, etc., all need to be modernized and expanded to take care of additional
volume of traffic. Similarly, in industrial field, urgent setting up of new Power Plants, Refineries, Steel and non-Ferrous Metal
Plants, Cement Plants etc. in a large scale is required to meet the growth of industries and nation’s aspirations. Gannon
Dunkerley & Co., Ltd., therefore, wants to lend its best contribution in these fields Civil Engineering of Nation Building. With
growing population and industrialization, Environment has also assumed a special signification. Water Treatment Division of
the company is playing its role in undertaking major environmental construction projects such as Water and Effluent
Treatment Plants. Though Gannon is mainly a Civil Engineering construction Company, its Mechanical & Electrical
Engineering Division is also Simultaneously growing to undertake major fabrication and erection of structural steel work,
piping, erection of equipment, etc. in various industrial projects. The Company has also modernized its
shuttering such as slip form shuttering and scaffolding systems. It has procured the latest survey instruments like Total
Stations. During the period 2003-08, the Company’s turnover has grown six times.
A chimney under construction by Gannon Dunkerley & Company at the Balco smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh collapsed on September 23, 2009 killing at least 45 workers
. Balco and GDCL management have been accused of negligence in the incident.
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
company based in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
Mr. Henry Gannon and Mr. J.H. Dunkerley who were in business in India from 1895, joined together in 1918 to form GannonDunkerley & Co., In 1924, it was incorporated as a Private Limited Company and the change in management to Indian
hands took place in 1946. It was converted into a Public Limited Company in 1948.
Originally, the Company's activities were mainly in trading. Gradually Gannon’s diversified into Civil Engineering in the early
thirties. Several bridges in South India including R.C.C. Bowstring girder bridges with own in-house design were constructed
by this Company, as also aqueducts, civil engineering works for irrigation and hydro-electric projects, water works and
factory buildings. The first ghat road to Tirupathi Hill was also constructed by this Company.
During the Second World War, the Company built several air fields and runways on emergency basis completing all in a very
short period. The Company pioneered in pre-cast R.C.C. construction in the early 1940s. When the concept of pre-stressed
concrete came into vogue, Gannon Dunkerley was one of the earliest in India to adopt and translate this into practice. In the
mid 1950’s, the Company designed and constructed several pre-stressed concrete bridges, including the first in the Western
Railways and Central Railways zones.
From 1950 onwards, Civil Engineering constructions became the main thrust in the business of the Company. During this
period, it constructed several prestigious buildings and completed other projects. From seventies, the main thrust went to
industrial projects. Gannon started its Mechanical Engineering Division in the mid fifties to undertake fabrication, erection of
structural steel work, piping, as also erection of equipment for various industrial projects and successfully executed a
number of such projects.
Going forward, the Company diversified into Water & Effluent Treatment in mid seventies. Considering modernization of
Indian Railways, it established a Pre-stressed Concrete Sleeper Plant in 1990 at Rayagada (Orissa).
At the beginning of 21st century, the Company re-entered the Infrastructure Sector, taking up a number of projects for
construction of Highways, Railways, Bridges and Flyovers.
In line with its policy, the Company has diversified into Real Estate sector in 2007.
Mission & Vision
Gannon Dunkerley & Co., Ltd. is a ConstructionCompany undertaking construction of Engineering
projects for both public and Private sector clients. Indian
economy like Chinese economy is a rapidly growing
economy of the world with an annual growth rate of 8%
to 10%. This calls for rapid development in both
infrastructure and industrial fields. To cater for
infrastructure development of
Roads & Highways, Railways, Airports, etc., all need to be modernized and expanded to take care of additional
volume of traffic. Similarly, in industrial field, urgent setting up of new Power Plants, Refineries, Steel and non-Ferrous Metal
Plants, Cement Plants etc. in a large scale is required to meet the growth of industries and nation’s aspirations. Gannon
Dunkerley & Co., Ltd., therefore, wants to lend its best contribution in these fields Civil Engineering of Nation Building. With
growing population and industrialization, Environment has also assumed a special signification. Water Treatment Division of
the company is playing its role in undertaking major environmental construction projects such as Water and Effluent
Treatment Plants. Though Gannon is mainly a Civil Engineering construction Company, its Mechanical & Electrical
Engineering Division is also Simultaneously growing to undertake major fabrication and erection of structural steel work,
piping, erection of equipment, etc. in various industrial projects. The Company has also modernized its
shuttering such as slip form shuttering and scaffolding systems. It has procured the latest survey instruments like Total
Stations. During the period 2003-08, the Company’s turnover has grown six times.
Criticism
Safety ConcernsA chimney under construction by Gannon Dunkerley & Company at the Balco smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh collapsed on September 23, 2009 killing at least 45 workers
. Balco and GDCL management have been accused of negligence in the incident.
Board of directors
| A. C. BURMAN | CHAIRMAN |
| S.B. SARKAR | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
| NARAYANDAS SARAF | DIRECTOR |
| KAMAL M. MORARKA | DIRECTOR |
| PARAG C. MEHTA | DIRECTOR |
| VIJAY G. KALANTRI | DIRECTOR |
| RAVINDER MANCHANDA | DIRECTOR |