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.

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.

Mrs.Tanvi Shah, HR and Admin Consultant at APARC Pvt. Ltd., holds an MBA in Human Resource Management and  has over five years of experience in the field of HR. She has expertise in recruitment, employee  engagement, performance management, and organizational administration, she supports APARC in  strengthening its internal systems and team coordination. She brings a people-focused approach and  strong administrative skills to foster a collaborative and efficient work environment within the  organization.

Tamanna holds a degree in Master’s in Urban Planning from Guru Ramdas School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev  University, brings strong analytical and technical expertise in sustainable urban development. She has  hands-on experience through her internship with the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company  (PMIDC), contributing to Green Action Plans and Heat Maps for multiple towns.She combines academic  insight with practical fieldwork to support effective, sustainable, and inclusive urban planning  initiatives.

Dr. Sunandini is a forestry researcher with a Ph.D. in Wood Science & Technology, specializing in  sustainable forestry and bamboo preservation. An INSPIRE Fellow and gold medalist, she has published  research internationally and is committed to advancing sustainable forest management and environmental  conservation.

Anushka Mishra is a postgraduate Botany student with hands-on experience in fieldwork, plant  identification, and organic farming. Passionate about biodiversity conservation and sustainable  agriculture, she contributes to research focused on plant diversity and ecological sustainability..

Aakash Deshmukh is an MSc Wildlife Biology graduate with hands-on experience in ecological fieldwork,  species identification, and GIS-based data analysis. Passionate about wildlife conservation, he has  worked on projects addressing human–elephant conflict and biodiversity protection. Aakash combines  strong research skills with a commitment to sustainable conservation practices and community engagement.

Ashwin Patel is a Zoology postgraduate from Gujarat University with research experience in avian  biodiversity. Skilled in bird handling, field observation, and teamwork, he is passionate about wildlife  research and conservation, with a focus on studying bird species and their ecological patterns.

Nisha Sen is a postgraduate in Zoology and pursuing an MSc in Industrial Chemistry with one year of  experience as a Quality Assurance Chemist at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BORL), Bina. Skilled  in analytical techniques such as GC, HPLC, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, and water testing, she is dedicated  to ensuring quality control and accuracy in laboratory operations within the petrochemical and refinery  sectors.

Mr. Vitthal Patani has been an integral part of Atharva Planning and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. (APARC) for over a decade, serving as a dedicated Office Assistant. With his consistent support, reliability, and commitment, he has contributed significantly to the smooth functioning of office operations and administrative efficiency..

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.