Pradeep Gairola

Airport Construction Director and Project Director with 26+ years delivering greenfield and brownfield airport infrastructure across India and Africa.

Currently

Head of Airside Construction on a USD 900M, 10 MPPA greenfield international airport in Kinshasa, DRC, responsible for a 4,000 m runway, rapid exit taxiways, aprons and airside infrastructure under FIDIC guidelines. Previously managed a USD 2.6B aviation infrastructure programme for the Indian Air Force at AECOM and directed USD 850M of JICA-funded aviation and road projects under EPC at NHIDCL. Delivered the Leh-Ladakh runway at 14,000 ft ahead of schedule.

Expert in FIDIC Yellow, Green and Gold Books, contract administration, claims management, EPC/PPP delivery, Capex/Opex control and Primavera P6, with full compliance to ICAO Annex 14, FAA and DGCA standards. Leads teams of 150+ and manages design consultants (NACO/Haskoning, SOM), civil aviation authorities and government stakeholders. PMP-certified, with a Master's in Airport and Highways Engineering.

Head of Air Side Construction at N'djili International Airport Congo (DRC) (2025-01 – Present)

Heading Air Side construction for a 900 Million USD Green field International Airport of 10 MPPA capacity.

• Responsible for 4000 m Runway, Rapid Exit Runways, Taxiways and Apron, perimeter road and fencing and other infrastructures.
• Interacting with design consultants for the project NACO (Haskoning) and SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merill)
• Dealing with Civil Aviation Authorities for approvals, ICAO & FAA Regulatory compliances and FIDIC guidelines.

Lead Project Manager – Airport Construction at AECOM India Pvt Ltd (2023-01 – 2025-01)

• Oversaw preventive and corrective maintenance of airside infrastructure viz, Training centre, hangars simulators, runways, taxiways, ATC tower.
• Managed 2.6 Billion USD aviation infrastructure program for Indian Air Force & Airbus Defence Inc.
• Led Capex/Opex planning, contractor performance reviews, and emergency repair scheduling.
• Ensured full compliance with ICAO, DGCA, FAA, and HSE standards.
• Integrated digital tools for asset monitoring and predictive maintenance.

Road Safety Expert at Lea Associates South Asia (LASA), Tanzania (2021-01 – 2023-01)

• Conducted safety audits for $700M Dodoma infrastructure program.
• Delivered training programs for TANROADS engineers on maintenance and safety protocols.

General Manager (Infrastructure) at NHIDCL – Ministry of Roads & Highways – Govt of India (2019-01 – 2021-01)

• Directed JICA-funded aviation and road infrastructure projects worth 850 USD Million under EPC contract mode, ensuring timely delivery, cost control, and compliance with international standards.
• Ensured strict adherence to contractual obligations in line with FIDIC Yellow Book (D&B), Green Book (Sub Contracts) and Gold Book (DBO) regulations, mitigating risks and safeguarding project integrity.
• Served as Contract Administrator, overseeing documentation, claims management, and stakeholder communication to support seamless project execution.
• Managed preventive maintenance scheduling, inventory control, and vendor coordination to optimize operational efficiency and reduce downtime.

General Manager Aviation at BRIDCUL – Govt of Uttarakhand (2016-01 – 2019-01)

• Led rehabilitation of Terminal Building, runways, taxiways, apron, Non aero business center, MLCP, ATC tower, and MEP systems for Naini-Saini Airport upgradation.
• Directed O&M of 18 roads, ensuring timely execution and safety compliance.

Joint Director (Aviation Infrastructure) at Indian Air Force HQ (2010-01 – 2016-01)

• Directed Greenfield/Brownfield airport, with capacity of 10 MPPA, development across strategic zones across India
• Led emergency infrastructure response and helipad construction ($370M combined).
• Supervised six brownfield defense airports for their upgradation and maintenance.

Aviation Infrastructure Projects at Ministry of Defence (1998-01 – 2010-01)

• Delivered high-altitude airport projects including Leh-Ladakh runway ahead of schedule.
• Planned and got constructed five heliports and ancillary structures like fuel farm and fire fighting facilities.

Master of Engineering in Airport and Highways Engineering – MS University of Baroda

Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering – Malaviya National Institute of Technology