A graduate of Rishi Valley School and BSc Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras, Dr. Paparao finished his Ph.D in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
On returning to India, he setup Amma Lines, the flagship company of the Meka Group. The purpose of the company was to charter tugs. However, he pivoted to the more interesting and innovative space of Port and Marine construction, wherein he made not just a mark but landmarks all around India.
His expertise is sought by some of the largest companies, bureaucrats and ministers on building ports and solving difficult marine challenges.
His ability to understand a complex problem and find a simple solution from his Ph.D days extends to every business the Meka Group has ventured into – be it port construction, and engineering to local support for the group’s many projects.
Dr. Paparao’s theory to practical expertise along with his humble approach is what makes the fabric of the Meka Group and the discipline that permeates through everyone that works here.
He is a graduate of Campion School Mumbai, and a Prince of Wales scholarship holder for his education at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, UK. He has completed his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, Atlanta, USA.
Mr. Rao joined the Meka Group in 2000 and has since been instrumental in its growth trajectory. His involvement in the development of the Rewas Port drove his interest to grow dredging as a complementary business to Amma Lines and Rewas Port. He completed a Dredging course in the Netherlands before starting Meka Dredging, which has in short span of time become one of India’s main dredging companies.
He has setup various businesses within the group, ranging from Dredging, Ready Mix Concrete (sold to UltraTech), to Real Estate, IT and Media to diversify and derisk the group from its infrastructure foundations.
