Ajinkya Sarvagod: Building Beyond Blueprints
From Value Engineering to Landmark Projects — The Techno-Commercial Leader Transforming India’s Real Estate Landscape!
From the outset, Ajinkya Sarvagod faced a formidable challenge: spearheading engineering operations for one of Pune’s fastest-growing real estate developers during a period of ambitious expansion. As Vice President of Engineering at Kohinoor Group, Pune, he must seamlessly integrate world-class technology, stringent project timelines, and a legacy of trust built over four decades.
Ajinkya rose to the occasion by aligning Kohinoor’s “Sada Sukhi Raho” philosophy, meaning “Live Forever Happy,” with scalable engineering excellence. Under his leadership, the team adopted comprehensive project planning inspired by Japanese precision, ensuring that each development, from high-rise residences to mixed-use townships, was meticulously scoped before breaking ground.
He implemented innovative processes like mobile-enabled quality control and Kaizen methodology, creating a culture of continuous improvement within engineering teams. This not only optimized delivery but also upheld Kohinoor’s reputation for transparency, timely handover, and superior customer experience.
Ajinkya’s techno-commercial acumen has proved invaluable, judiciously balancing cost-efficiency with performance. His strategic interventions have delivered sustainable engineering solutions across Kohinoor’s multi-million‑square‑foot projects currently under development.
Beyond project execution, Ajinkya fosters future-ready engineering talent. He mentors teams in lean construction and digital tool adoption and regularly conducts sessions to share his expertise with government programs and engineering students, echoing his dedication to industry-wide advancement.
In navigating rapid organizational growth, Ajinkya exemplifies how visionary leadership, structured execution, and a commitment to happiness-driven philosophy can transform engineering challenges into landmark real estate achievements.
From Humble Beginnings to Industry Vanguard
Ajinkya’s journey began nearly two decades ago, rooted in an unyielding passion for construction and leadership. Today, he holds a prestigious position as Vice President of Engineering at Kohinoor Group, and formerly at Nyati Group, steering large-scale real estate and infrastructure projects across India. Ajinkya’s trajectory reflects a rare combination of technical prowess, commercial acumen, and people-centric leadership.
His initial years were spent mastering the fundamental disciplines of project management, engineering design, and safety protocols. This grounding enabled Ajinkya to rise rapidly, transforming him into a dynamic leader capable of handling high-stakes challenges. With an innate understanding that true leadership extends beyond blueprints, he championed collaborative environments where multidisciplinary teams thrived. Serving both as guardian and guide, his rare blend of empathy and excellence became foundational to his growing reputation.
Ajinkya soon became known for successfully delivering iconic projects, not just typical constructions, but statements of architectural ambition. His breakthrough moment was overseeing the construction of Virat Kohli’s luxury villa in Alibaug. Coupling global design languages with precision engineering, this project showcased his skill at blending glamour with operational rigor. Yet, even amid celebrity assignments, Ajinkya never strayed from foundational principles: safety, quality, cost control, and timely delivery. These early projects were crucibles in which his talent was forged, an inspiring tale for every young engineer eyeing transformative growth.
During his final year of engineering, Ajinkya was selected through a campus interview by K Raheja Corp. There, he had the opportunity to contribute to major developments such as Inorbit Mall Pune, Commerzone IT Park, and Raheja Vistas at NIBM Pune. The experience at K Raheja Corp was pivotal, helping him sharpen his execution and project management skills. Mentors like Kishore P. Tidke, Kishore Bhatija, Urvi Aaradhya, and Ranjan Bhuyan played an instrumental role in solidifying his technical foundation. Later, Mr. Amit Bhosale, Managing Director of ABIL Group, entrusted him with premium ultra-luxury projects, helping refine his high-end interior execution skills through globally inspired leadership. At Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd. (MLDL), he acknowledges Mr. Anand Mahindra, Tirthankar Chatterjee, and Rajesh Sriramshetty for expanding his leadership capacity.
Today, with over ₹5,000 crore in projects delivered, from Alibaug retreats to parts of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, Ajinkya stands as an architect of industry change. His journey from onsite learner to seasoned leader exemplifies how ambition, attention to detail, and a focus on teams can elevate individuals to visionary status.
Pioneering Project Strategies
At the core of Ajinkya’s leadership lies his ability to seamlessly integrate innovation with grounded execution. From adopting Kaizen principles to implementing mobile quality‑control software, he consistently leverages modern methodologies to uplift project delivery.
During Tenure with Avas Living Alibaug, Ajinkya introduced value engineering strategies that saved upward of ₹15 crore by fine‑tuning design and resource allocation. This wasn’t opportunistic penny-pinching, it was strategic reinvestment, where savings translated into improved materials, upgraded finishes, or faster timelines. Ajinkya understood the power of such gains, not only for project balance sheets, but also for stakeholder satisfaction and team pride.
Ajinkya is equally known for embedding Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement, across project cycles. Small, decisive changes to processes, communications, and execution methods culminated in noticeable gains in productivity, safety, and timeliness. Even more striking was his advocacy for mobile solutions in the field, which served to align quality control, customer relationship management, and real-time reporting . This technological leap not only enhanced transparency but also established Ajinkya’s sites as forward‑thinking, digitally empowered environments.
His innovations have been recognized across the industry. Ajinkya has been honored as Asia’s Inspiring Project Leader of the Year, and has received multiple awards, including the Apex India Occupational Health & Safety Award, for executing challenging jobs with discipline. Yet what defines him more than any trophy is his infectious energy: every ground‑level team meeting or site review sparkles with his hands-on, solutions-first approach. It’s clear: Ajinkya’s innovation isn’t stunt-driven, but process-driven, unleashing creativity while keeping feet firmly planted on the ground.
Cultivating Culture: Safety, Teamwork, and Excellence
Behind Ajinkya’s project success is an equally dynamic leadership style, one that places people, safety, and operational culture on equal footing. His development of a psychologically safe, high-performance site culture has set a benchmark in the industry.
At Nyati Group, where he served as Vice President, Ajinkya re-established a gold standard in on-site precautions. His team’s consistent excellence led to winning the “Apex India Occupational Health & Safety Award” in the Platinum category, a testament to his commitment to building safe workspaces. Such accolades reflect not just compliance, but dedication: protocols, drills, and safety audits are built into every phase of the work cycle.
Ajinkya’s teams frequently applaud his ability to tie performance metrics to personal growth. Under his mentorship, junior engineers gain rapid skill elevation, and management pipelines are built organically, powered by his principled mentoring. As he once reflected upon winning Asia’s Inspiring Project Leader of the Year, “this milestone is not just a reflection of my journey but a testament to the incredible teams, mentors, and collaborators who have supported me.”
His interest in ethics and corporate discipline traces back to childhood, his father was a criminal lawyer, which sparked an early fascination with code of conduct and governance. This foundational interest earned him the title of ‘Independent Director’ from the Institute of Directors (IOD). Ajinkya is also currently pursuing the Executive Management Programme in Entrepreneurship Development at IIT Delhi, further deepening his commitment to ethical and visionary leadership.
This heartfelt, inclusive approach also extends to his peer networks. Ajinkya places great value on collaboration across vendors and consultants, and always credits others in key success stories. It was no surprise that in receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Indian Real Estate award at ET Now’s Business Conclave in 2025, he immediately recognized the support of colleagues at Kohinoor, including Vineet Goyal and Nilesh Laddad.
What truly sets Ajinkya apart is that he views success as a shared banner. By recognizing and spotlighting others, he reinforces a culture of loyalty, integrity, and belonging, intangible values that fuel consistent delivery excellence across complex projects.
Landmark Projects: Redefining India’s Skyline
Ajinkya’s career is studded with landmark projects, each with its own ambition, scale, and signature. But among them, the standout has been the luxury villa he developed for Virat Kohli in Alibaug. Beyond glitz and celebrity appeal, this project represented global architecture, top-tier materials, and a level of finishes rarely achieved in private residences in India.
Simultaneously, Ajinkya has led flagship developments across Pune, such as the Inorbit Mall and the ABIL-Avanti and Raheja Vista residential complexes. These are not mere buildings; they are community-centric ecosystems, blending retail, lifestyle, and sustainability. Ajinkya’s influence ensured each project upheld functional elegance and operational prudence.
Another milestone came through engineering corridors like the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway. A key stretch under his oversight reflects his growing versatility, and a leap from residential and retail into civic-scale engineering. This project required masterful stakeholder management, regulatory coordination, logistical firewalling, and quality control under high-pressure delivery timelines.
His recognition as Asia’s Inspiring Project Leader of the Year 2024 was clearly more than orchestration, it was the culmination of his multifaceted role as visionary planner, on-site strategist, cost steward, and client-liaison. When he acknowledged gratitude, he included Nyati Group’s Dr. Jagdish Hote, AVAS Wellness, ABIL, K-Raheja Corp, and Mahindra Life Spaces as “instrumental in shaping my professional journey.”
These high-profile assignments reflect how far Ajinkya’s vision casts its shadow across India’s evolving skyline, not limited to buildings but embracing roads, expressways, and urban networks. Together, they evoke a future angled towards complexity, sustainability, and national impact.
Mentoring the Next Generation
At the heart of Ajinkya’s enduring impact lies his role as a mentor and educator. Repeatedly invited to deliver techno-commercial lectures at institutions like VJTI Mumbai, he shares classroom time with the leaders of tomorrow, imparting lessons in pragmatic execution, risk mitigation, and value optimization.
He embodies what he teaches: transparent communication, clean accountability, and a bias for action. Ajinkya became instrumental in accelerating internal growth at firms such as Mahindra Life Space Developers and ABIL, as reported by colleagues who attributed “swift promotion and learning acceleration” directly to his mentorship under him . His approach to personal development intertwines with project successes, he’s known to turn on-site challenges into leadership opportunities for his teams, motivating them to take initiative and innovate.
Ajinkya has also embraced broader thought leadership. His articles, including one published in the Times of India in December 2024, reflect his desire to share industry insights with a wider audience. These publicly-voiced opinions underline his belief that today’s learning leaders should be tomorrow’s industry architects.
Beyond the classroom or site, Ajinkya frequently supports internal initiatives in digital adoption (e.g., mobile CRM, quality tech) and process improvement. Under his leadership, these have transformed from pilot concepts into standard practice, accelerating productivity and safety across the enterprise.
As a result, Ajinkya’s legacy extends beyond brick and mortar, into a generation of professionals prepared to deliver excellence. Even as he handles ₹5,000 crore worth of projects today, his greatest contribution may be the empowered minds he cultivates, the future leaders who will carry forward his legacy of innovation, mentorship, and operational excellence.
Ajinkya’s career is not just a story of technical brilliance, but a testament to integrated leadership. His stage spans executive suites and construction sites, lecture halls and award stages. From delivering celebrity villas to expressway corridors, from piloting digital uplift to mentoring young engineers, he embraces every dimension of vision-driven delivery.
Awards like Asia’s Inspiring Project Leader of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Indian Real Estate underscore an evolving narrative, one where innovation meets integrity, execution aligns with empathy, and leadership blooms from community.
In turning landmark projects into platforms for growth, Ajinkya offers a compelling blueprint: that true impact lies not only in buildings completed, but in lives shaped, teams united, and futures envisioned. At a time when India’s infrastructure and skilled leadership are at a breaking point, his story offers inspiration, and perhaps a roadmap, for the next generation aiming to build more than just structures, but enduring legacies.
Awards & Recognitions
- Asia’s Inspiring Project Leader of the Year (2025)
Recognized by Business Connect Magazine for his visionary leadership and groundbreaking project execution.
- Great Indian Project Leader Award (2024)
Honored by Business Connect Magazine for his exceptional contributions to large-scale infrastructure and real estate
- Apex India Occupational Health & Safety Award (Platinum category)
Acknowledged for implementing rigorous safety standards and protocols, underlining his strong commitment to worker well-being.
- Best Engineer Award (5-time recipient)
Recognized repeatedly for outstanding engineering acumen and top-tier project delivery.
- General Championship Trophy for Excellence in Execution
Awarded during his tenure at Mahindra Life Space Developers, honoring excellence in project execution.
- Economic Times Now Business Conclave Awards-2025 Honours Mr. Ajinkya Sarvagod with Outstanding Contribution to The Indian Real Estate Industry at The Taj Palace, New Delhi.
Ajinkya’s article was featured in ‘The Times of India‘ on 1st May 2025.
Magazine Link: Click Here