About Us

Mr. Ajay Agrawal is an accomplished Urban Planner, Architect, and Law Graduate with over two decades of professional experience in multidisciplinary planning and development. He has successfully led and executed more than 400 projects across diverse domains including urban infrastructure, regional planning, environmental management, socio-economic research, ecological assessments, and policy evaluations. His work spans across various geographies in India, with a focus on evidence-based planning, participatory approaches, and sustainable development outcomes.

Mr. P. K. Gosh is an officer with long experience in the field of Urban Administration including planning in different regions/ cities of India. He is actively associated with Urban Planning and issues relating to Urban Planning after retirement. An able administrator, he is also experienced in the administration of Heritage Regulations and Management Practices.

Mr. Utpal Padia, Director at APARC, brings over 36 years of experience in urban governance, planning, and infrastructure, having retired as Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. He leads market research, impact evaluation, and policy planning at APARC, known for his precision and depth. He previously implemented India’s first full BRT system, earning national and international recognition.

Mr. Mahesh Singh is a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1990 batch with over three decades of distinguished service. He has held key leadership roles across Gujarat’s Forest, Urban Development, Environment, Education, Water, Energy, and Rural Industries sectors. His vast cross-sectoral expertise and deep commitment to sustainable development greatly enrich Atharva’s strategic direction.

Dr. Gauri Trivedi is a retired IAS officer of the Karnataka Cadre. She has done her Masters and M Phil from JNU, New Delhi in the field of Political Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Development Administration from IDS Mysore and ISEC Bengaluru. She has also done her PGPPM from IIM Bengaluru. Her interests are in Public Policy, Social Development, and Public Administration.

Dr. Santosh Shukla, Advisor at APARC, is a retired academician with over 42 years of experience in Industrial Geography, Environmental Management, and Rural Development. He has held key positions including Director of the Population Research Centre (MoHFW, GoI), authored 8 books, published 50+ research papers, and guided 22 Ph.D. scholars.

Mr. Trushar Shah, with an experience of over 11 years as a CA has contributed to academics and professional fields alike. Implementation of Accounting Reforms and Accrual base double-entry accounting system for ULBs, Preparation of City Development Plan, Detailed Project Reports, Project Management, and Training on Municipal Accounting are some of his areas of work along with contribution to Fixed Assets Inventory and Valuation for various projects.

Ashish M. Deosthali, Associate Project Director at APARC, is a civil and environmental engineer with over 20 years of experience in urban management and infrastructure planning. He has led projects for UNDP, World Bank, and ADB, specializing in solid waste management, sanitation, and governance reforms across India and Asia.

Mr. Vijay Gangani is an Urban and Transportation Planner with over 15 years of international experience across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He holds Master’s degrees from the University of Leeds and CEPT University and is certified in LEED GA and Integrated Urban & Transport Planning (WBI). He has worked with diverse stakeholders to align transportation and land-use planning.

Mr. Ketan Patel is B.E. (Mechanical) from L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad and PG Diploma in Advanced Computing from CDAC. He is software architect having expertise in web technologies, cloud infrastructure and data security. He is also Director, Techgrains Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Vadodara. He has Developed Mobile Applications, Web-Based Applications, and online assistance for various projects.

Dipanjali Bagh, Senior Project Coordinator at APARC, is a socio-economic expert with experience in impact assessment, CSR strategy, sustainable development, and NGO management. She plays a key role in ongoing projects, contributing through research, policy analysis, and effective stakeholder engagement to support inclusive and sustainable development goals.

Apoorva Jeenal Vaz, Senior Project Coordinator at APARC, is an architect and urban infrastructure specialist with over 7 years of experience in managing residential and urban development projects. She brings expertise in WASH, sanitation, climate resilience, and sustainable urban systems, with a strong focus on project execution, stakeholder coordination, and data-driven planning.

Ashish Manoj P, Senior Project Coordinator at APARC, is a trained architect and urban planner with over 4 years of experience in public infrastructure, heritage conservation, and sustainable urban design. With a focus on WASH and climate-adaptive planning, he brings valuable skills in stakeholder engagement, sanitation planning, and ground-level research in both urban and peri-urban settings.

Sandeep Chatterjee, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus and Certified Independent Director, is a seasoned HR strategist with over 23 years of experience across sectors like education, IT, oil & gas, and BFSI. He specializes in executive search, performance management, and HR transformation, and has led large-scale recruitment and organizational restructuring initiatives.

Shreya Jamulkar, Research Associate at APARC, is an architect and urban manager by profession. With a strong foundation in urban policy, governance, and livelihood systems, she has worked on projects related to street vendors, urban homeless shelters, and resilient cities. She brings a blend of design thinking and research skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and inclusive urban development.

Ms. Priya Mishra holds a degree in B.Arch. from the School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, and Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a specialization in Landuse Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. As a Project Manager at APARC, she is currently involved with various ongoing projects.