Akhaya Kumar Patra
Mumbai
Summary
Dynamic operations leader with a proven track record at Western Region–1, enhancing profitability and compliance while driving a 10–15% reduction in forced outages. Expertise in large-scale power operations and analytical problem-solving, complemented by a commitment to safety and ethical governance. Recognized for delivering impactful results under pressure.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Head – Operations Services
Western Region–1
Mumbai
10.2025 - 01.2026
- Provided enterprise leadership for multi-station operations and profitability across WR-1, improving regional PLF by ~2–3 percentage points through coordinated planning and outage governance.
- Ensured 100% regulatory, statutory, and legal compliance, with zero major audit observations across stations.
- Accelerated project execution and milestone tracking, contributing to on-time delivery of critical works and avoidance of schedule slippages.
- Led monthly regional reviews with Station Coordinators, achieving 10–15% reduction in forced outages through preventive action frameworks.
- Oversaw Regional Energy Accounts (REA) and DSM settlements, improving billing accuracy and dispute resolution timelines.
- Strengthened environmental and statutory audit planning, enabling uninterrupted operations with zero regulatory shutdowns.
Head of Project
Gandhar / Jhanor
Gujarat
02.2025 - 10.2025
- Held full P&L-linked operational responsibility across operations, maintenance, finance, and administration.
- Improved plant availability by ~3–4%, translating into incremental revenue of ₹40–60 Cr (annualized).
- Tightened cost controls and operational discipline, resulting in 5–8% reduction in controllable O&M costs.
- Maintained zero LTI safety record while reinforcing a strong safety culture.
- Strengthened community and stakeholder engagement through focused CSR initiatives, reducing external disruptions and improving social license to operate.
Head – Operations & Maintenance
BRBCL
Nabinagar
11.2024 - 02.2025
- Stabilized plant operations and reduced outage frequency by ~12–15% through structured planning and preventive maintenance.
- Improved unit availability by ~2%, enhancing generation reliability during peak demand periods.
Head – Operations & Maintenance
Farakka
West Bengal
01.2023 - 11.2024
- Led station-wide O&M functions, achieving consistent PLF improvement of ~2–3%.
- Reduced forced outages by ~10% through focused root-cause analysis and corrective action programs.
Head – Main Plant Operations
Vindhyachal
Madhya Pradesh
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Led operations of 13 units, improving station availability by ~3–4% across the period.
- Reduced forced outage hours by ~15–20%, contributing to annual revenue protection of ₹150–200 Cr.
- Optimized operational processes, delivering measurable efficiency gains and margin improvement.
Shift-in-Charge → Head of Operations
Rihand
Uttar Pradesh
01.2007 - 01.2020
- Progressed from Shift-in-Charge to Head of Operations through sustained performance delivery.
- Improved long-term PLF by ~5–6% over baseline through systematic elimination of operational bottlenecks.
- Played a key role in stabilizing operations during high-stress grid and fuel conditions.
Executive Trainee → Shift-in-Charge
Farakka
West Bengal
01.1990 - 01.2007
- Built strong foundations in plant operations, emergency handling, and unit control.
- Earned successive promotions based on operational reliability, decision-making under pressure, and leadership capability.
Education
B.Sc. Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
UCE Burla
Sambalpur, OdishaSkills
- Safety & Ethical Governance
- Large-Scale Power Operations
- Regulatory & Financial Acumen
- Analytical Leadership & Problem Solving
- Integrity & Execution Under Pressure
Accomplishments
• Drove top-tier generation performance as Head of Operations, enabling Rihand Power Plant to achieve the highest generation among NTPC stations, setting a benchmark for operational excellence.
• Led critical environmental compliance initiatives as a core leader in executing BHEL and GE boiler (Rihand) and Ansaldo Boiler (Farakka) fuel conversion projects (HFO to LDO) and ensuring adherence to stringent emission norms.
• Delivered large-capacity project commissioning by playing a decisive leadership role in the commissioning and commercialization of Rihand Stage-III (2 × 500 MW) units.
• Strategically initiated gas turbine modernization at Jhanor by proposing the advanced MXL design, significantly improving unit reliability and reducing fail-to-run incidents impacting station availability.
• Elevated organizational excellence as Head of Operations at Vindhyachal, contributing to the station achieving the highest Business Excellence (BE) score across NTPC.
• Enabled breakthrough innovation through active leadership involvement in NTPC’s first CO₂-to-Methanol pilot project at Vindhyachal, supporting energy transition and sustainability goals.
• Restored critical coal-handling infrastructure at Farakka by leading the revival of stacker-reclaimer systems, resulting in substantial demurrage reduction and improved fuel security, particularly during monsoon periods.
• Re-established strategic fuel logistics capability by reviving NTPC’s longest MGR system (~84 km) at Farakka, reducing dependence on imported coal and materially lowering the Energy Charge Rate (ECR).
• Strengthened operational reliability through sustained reduction in forced outages and improvement in PLF by instituting rigorous operational monitoring and performance-driven team culture.
• Built a zero-incident safety culture at Jhanor through direct engagement with employees and contract workforce, improving working conditions and eliminating reportable accidents.
• Delivered measurable community impact by steering innovative, need-based CSR initiatives around NTPC Jhanor, driving social goodwill and long-term stakeholder trust.
• Secured stakeholder alignment and operational continuity through effective liaison with district administration and local leadership, ensuring smooth plant operations and risk mitigation.
• Led critical environmental compliance initiatives as a core leader in executing BHEL and GE boiler (Rihand) and Ansaldo Boiler (Farakka) fuel conversion projects (HFO to LDO) and ensuring adherence to stringent emission norms.
• Delivered large-capacity project commissioning by playing a decisive leadership role in the commissioning and commercialization of Rihand Stage-III (2 × 500 MW) units.
• Strategically initiated gas turbine modernization at Jhanor by proposing the advanced MXL design, significantly improving unit reliability and reducing fail-to-run incidents impacting station availability.
• Elevated organizational excellence as Head of Operations at Vindhyachal, contributing to the station achieving the highest Business Excellence (BE) score across NTPC.
• Enabled breakthrough innovation through active leadership involvement in NTPC’s first CO₂-to-Methanol pilot project at Vindhyachal, supporting energy transition and sustainability goals.
• Restored critical coal-handling infrastructure at Farakka by leading the revival of stacker-reclaimer systems, resulting in substantial demurrage reduction and improved fuel security, particularly during monsoon periods.
• Re-established strategic fuel logistics capability by reviving NTPC’s longest MGR system (~84 km) at Farakka, reducing dependence on imported coal and materially lowering the Energy Charge Rate (ECR).
• Strengthened operational reliability through sustained reduction in forced outages and improvement in PLF by instituting rigorous operational monitoring and performance-driven team culture.
• Built a zero-incident safety culture at Jhanor through direct engagement with employees and contract workforce, improving working conditions and eliminating reportable accidents.
• Delivered measurable community impact by steering innovative, need-based CSR initiatives around NTPC Jhanor, driving social goodwill and long-term stakeholder trust.
• Secured stakeholder alignment and operational continuity through effective liaison with district administration and local leadership, ensuring smooth plant operations and risk mitigation.
Leadership Philosophy
My leadership philosophy is anchored in safety, integrity, and disciplined execution as the foundation of sustainable performance. Having led large, complex power assets, I believe operational excellence is achieved by combining strong governance, data-driven decision-making, and empowered teams. I prioritize regulatory compliance and risk management as strategic enablers, not constraints, ensuring credibility and resilience in highly regulated environments. I lead with a strong focus on people and accountability, engaging directly with teams to build ownership, capability, and a high-performance culture. Equally important is stakeholder stewardship—transparent engagement with regulators, communities, and partners to ensure continuity and trust. My objective is to build organizations that are reliable, financially disciplined, ethically grounded, and future-ready.
Core Expertise
- Safety & Ethical Governance: Champion of strong safety culture, statutory compliance, and ethical practices across large operations.
- Large-Scale Power Operations: Extensive experience in coal-based (200/500/660 MW) and gas-based (656/419/1968 MW) power plants, covering operations, maintenance coordination, and performance optimization.
- Regulatory & Financial Acumen: In-depth knowledge of CERC, RPC, and CEA frameworks, power-plant financials, cost structures, and operational economics.
- Analytical Leadership & Problem Solving: Strong analytical and interpretative skills with a proven ability to deliver innovative solutions to complex operational and regulatory challenges.
- Integrity & Execution Under Pressure: High standards of confidentiality and integrity; consistently effective under tight timelines and high-pressure environments.
Timeline
Regional Head – Operations Services
Western Region–1
10.2025 - 01.2026
Head of Project
Gandhar / Jhanor
02.2025 - 10.2025
Head – Operations & Maintenance
BRBCL
11.2024 - 02.2025
Head – Operations & Maintenance
Farakka
01.2023 - 11.2024
Head – Main Plant Operations
Vindhyachal
01.2020 - 01.2023
Shift-in-Charge → Head of Operations
Rihand
01.2007 - 01.2020
Executive Trainee → Shift-in-Charge
Farakka
01.1990 - 01.2007
B.Sc. Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
UCE Burla