Murali D

Murali Dhamodharan

Civil Engineering Consultant | Project & Construction Management

Contracts Management | EOT, Dispute Management, Claims & Arbitration

36+ Years of International Construction Experience

Practical Engineering Experience • Construction Consultancy • Project Management • Knowledge Sharing

Professional Journey

From Civil Engineer to Construction Consultant & Engineering Educator

My professional journey began in 1990 and has taken me through major infrastructure, highway, airport, building and construction projects across India and the United Arab Emirates, followed by international business operations and entrepreneurship in the UAE and Iraq.

Over more than three decades, I have gained practical experience across engineering execution, construction management, project coordination, contracts, procurement, tendering, claims and dispute-related matters. Today, I focus on consultancy, project management, construction management and sharing practical engineering knowledge with the next generation of civil engineers.

Professional Career

1990 - 1991 | Atlanta Construction Co.
Civil Engineer | Naval Air Base Infrastructure, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, India

Contributed to the construction of a major naval airfield at Arakkonam, featuring one of Asia’s longest military runways (4,500 m × 45 m) and a 4,200 m × 35 m taxiway. The project was of national significance, with its foundation stone laid by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri R. Venkataraman.

1991 - 1994 | Afcons–Pauling JV.
Senior Engineer → Chief Surveyor | National Highway No. 1, Punjab, India

Worked on the construction of approximately 72 km of National Highway No. 1, including 33 culverts and 8 minor bridges, with progressively increasing responsibilities across highway construction and surveying.

Initially worked as Senior Engineer – Earthwork Division, overseeing earthworks including Sub-Base and Wet Mix Macadam (WMM). Subsequently took charge of the Asphalt Division, coordinating the asphalt plant operations and laying activities.

During the final phase of the project, served as Chief Surveyor and overall in-charge of the Survey Division, managing survey teams assigned to the Earthwork, WMM, Asphalt and geometric survey sections. Responsibilities included highway geometric design, alignment, setting out, horizontal curves, transition curves, roundabouts and T-junctions, as well as field observations to identify and address existing obstacles such as electrical poles and other utilities before construction proceeded.

1994–2006 | Al Ghafly General Contracting LLC, UAE.
Project Engineer → Tendering & Procurement → Planning & Cost Control → Projects Coordinator / Contracts Manager → Project Manager

1994–1996 | Project Engineer — 200 Villas, Al Qua'a, Al Ain | Phase 1

Worked as Project Engineer on the construction of approximately 200 villas at Al Qua'a, Al Ain, with direct involvement in the complete construction cycle, including shuttering, reinforcement, concrete, blockwork, plastering, painting and finishing works. Coordinated closely with the Electrical and Plumbing departments and dealt directly with the Supervision Consultant for project execution, inspections and coordination.

1996–2000 | Tendering, Procurement, Planning & Cost Control

Progressed into commercial and project-control responsibilities, initially taking charge of tendering, followed by procurement, and subsequently heading Planning, Procurement and Cost Control. Responsibilities included tender preparation, quantity and cost evaluation, procurement coordination, project planning, resource coordination and monitoring of project costs and progress.

2000–2004 | Projects Coordinator → Contracts Manager — Abu Dhabi, UAE

Moved into Projects Coordination, with responsibility for tendering, project coordination and commercial involvement in major developments, including the Mussafah Industrial City development in Abu Dhabi, in coordination with W.S. Atkins, an international engineering consultancy.

Mussafah Industrial City — Major Development Components:

Administration Building
Police Station
Residential Development — 54 Buildings, each comprising 12 apartments
Studio Apartment Development — 12 Buildings, each comprising 64 studio apartments
Industrial Warehouses — Type A: 4 Buildings
Industrial Warehouses — Type B: 4 Buildings
Industrial Warehouses — Type C: 4 Buildings

The project provided extensive exposure to large-scale mixed-use and industrial development, including Vibroflotation ground improvement, specialist fire-protection systems using cementitious applications and fire-rated cement-board systems, and heavy industrial steel structures.

In addition to the Mussafah Industrial City development, I was involved in tendering and project coordination for several major Abu Dhabi developments, including:

International Tennis Complex — Zayed City, Abu Dhabi
560 Villas — Baniyas, Abu Dhabi
540 Villas — Al Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi
220 Villas — Al Shahama, Abu Dhabi

Subsequently progressed to the position of Contracts Manager, handling contractual, commercial and project-related matters across more than six projects. Responsibilities included Claims, Extension of Time (EOT), Variations, Contractual Evaluation and Dispute-related matters, including coordination with James R. Knowles on construction disputes, claims and EOT matters.

2004–2006 | Project Manager — 550 Villas, Al Qua'a, Al Ain | Phase 2

Appointed Project Manager for the construction of approximately 550 villas at Al Qua'a, Al Ain (Phase 2), working under Hyder Consulting as the supervision consultant. Responsible for overall project execution, coordination, planning, construction management and consultant interface.

During the same period, additionally took charge of a Majlis project for H.H. Sheikh Zayed at Green Mubazzarah, Al Ain, completed within an exceptionally short 60-day programme, under Shankland Cox as consultant.

2006–2015 | Hasel Building Contractors LLC, UAE .
Managing Director | Building Construction & Project Management

2006–2008 | Individual Villa Projects — Ajman, UAE

As Managing Director, led the execution of approximately 10 individual villa projects in Ajman, overseeing overall construction activities, project coordination, subcontractors, procurement, planning and quality of execution.

2008–2010 | Industrial & Warehouse Projects — Al Jurf, Ajman

Expanded the company's portfolio into industrial buildings and warehouses, successfully executing approximately 9 industrial projects in the Al Jurf industrial area of Ajman. The projects included major steel-structure buildings, executed through specialist subcontractors such as Kirby, Zamil and Amana, in accordance with international construction standards and project requirements. Responsibilities included overall project management, construction coordination, procurement, resource planning, and coordination with clients, consultants and specialist contractors.

2010–2013 | High-Rise Building Projects — Ajman, UAE

Following the acquisition of an Unlimited Building Construction Licence, the company undertook several major high-rise developments in Ajman, including:

Nuimia Tower, Ajman — G + 16 floors
Shami Twin Tower, Emirates City, Ajman — G + 7 parking levels + 27 floors
Cristal Residency, Emirates City, Ajman — G + 7 parking levels + 27 floors

As Managing Director, was responsible for overall business and project leadership, including construction management, planning, procurement, project coordination, commercial control and coordination with consultants, clients and project teams.

2013–2015 | Iraq Projects — Basra, Iraq

During this period, expanded the company's operations into Iraq and was involved in the execution and coordination of several significant institutional and commercial projects in Basra, including:

Majlis Building (Constitution Assembly Building), Basra
Trade Center, Basra
Central Laboratory Building, Basra
Research Department Building, Basra University
Computer Department Building, Basra University

These projects further broadened experience from conventional building construction into institutional, educational, laboratory and commercial developments, involving multidisciplinary coordination and project management in an international environment.

2016–2020 | Transition Period
After completing an extensive international construction career spanning more than two decades, I returned to India in 2015 and took a period away from active construction operations. This period provided an opportunity to step back from day-to-day contracting responsibilities and reflect on the next stage of my professional journey.

2021–Present | Civil Guru Solutions — Project Management Consultancy
Since 2021, I have been providing end-to-end Project Management and Construction Consultancy services, representing clients throughout the complete project lifecycle — from initial design coordination and contractor selection through construction, completion, handover and the maintenance period.

My role involves acting on behalf of the client and coordinating the various stakeholders to ensure that the project is delivered in accordance with the required quality, cost, time and design objectives.

Key responsibilities include:

Coordinating with architects, structural consultants and MEP consultants from the design stage through execution.
Managing the tendering process, evaluation and selection of the main contractor.
Finalizing work orders, contractor appointments and commencement of works.
Monitoring construction progress through regular site inspections and coordination with subordinate engineers.
Maintaining overall quality control and ensuring construction conforms to approved drawings, specifications and project requirements.
Coordinating with clients and architects for material selection, technical approvals and price finalization.
Selecting and finalizing specialist subcontractors, in consultation with the client and architect.
Monitoring the overall project programme and construction schedule, with emphasis on avoiding unnecessary delays and Extension of Time (EOT) claims.
Scrutinizing Main Contractor RABs and Subcontractor RABs, measurements and payment-related submissions.
Exercising cost control, including review and control of variations, additional works and associated costs.
Coordinating architectural, structural, electrical and MEP works throughout construction.
Maintaining continuous client and consultant coordination and resolving site issues before they affect project progress.
Managing snagging, rectification, completion and final handover.
Coordinating the maintenance/defects liability period and ensuring outstanding issues are resolved.
Working proactively to minimize construction disputes, delays, variations and avoidable additional costs.

In simple terms, my role is to represent the client's interests throughout the project and manage, coordinate and monitor the entire process on the client's behalf.

Selected Consultancy Projects
Residential Projects

Dr. Srikanth Villa — Luxury Villa, Pondicherry
Mr. Kalya Villa — Luxury Villa, Auroville, Pondicherry
Mr. Filli Villa — Luxury Villa, Auroville, Pondicherry
Yusef & Ammar Twin Villa — Pondicherry
Mr. Mahalingam Villa — Luxury Villa, Uthandi, Chennai

Spring Days Development — Vellore

Spring Days International School
Spring Days Sports Complex
Spring Days Villas — Type A: 10 Villas
Spring Days Villas — Type B: 27 Villas
Spring Days Villas — Type C: 40 Villas
Spring Days Club House

Engineering Knowledge Sharing
Beyond professional consultancy, Civil Guru Solutions is also a knowledge-sharing initiative focused on helping the next generation of civil engineers develop practical understanding of engineering and construction.

Drawing from more than three decades of field experience across infrastructure, highways, airports, buildings, high-rise construction, project management and construction management, I share practical engineering knowledge that connects academic concepts with real-world construction practice.

The focus is on explaining how engineering principles are applied in actual projects — including construction methods, highway engineering, site execution, project management, construction technology and practical problem-solving.

Civil Guru Solutions YouTube Channel
A part-time educational initiative created to support students, fresh graduates and upcoming civil engineers through practical, visual and experience-based engineering content.

Visit Civil Guru Solutions on YouTube →

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse