Belagavi mourns the passing of Shri Balasaheb Patil(93), the visionary industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of the B.T. Patil Group, whose engineering genius helped shape some of India’s most challenging infrastructure projects — including the iconic Konkan Railway tunnels that stand today as marvels of precision and perseverance.
A pioneering figure in India’s civil engineering landscape, Shri Patil transformed the B.T. Patil & Sons Group from a regional enterprise into a nationally respected name in tunneling, dam construction, and hydro-power projects. His company’s execution of over 65 kilometers of tunnels, including the 3.07 km Tike Tunnel on the Konkan Railway, remains a landmark achievement. That tunnel, completed without disturbing the flora and fauna even 100 meters above it, stands as a testament to his unmatched technical discipline and environmental foresight.
Beyond his monumental contributions to infrastructure, Shri Balasaheb Patil was deeply committed to empowering youth through education. He established the B.T. Patil & Sons Polytechnic in Belagavi, a premier institution that continues to provide technical education and career pathways for hundreds of aspiring engineers. His belief that industrial success must be accompanied by community upliftment defined his life’s philosophy.
His vision extended to creating a sustainable, multi-generational enterprise — nurturing not just a company, but an ecosystem of innovation and human capital. Under his guidance, the group diversified into automation, structural engineering, and IT services, ensuring long-term resilience and employment for thousands.
Shri Patil also exemplified national civic duty, contributing generously to causes of public welfare, including a ₹1 crore donation to the PM CARES Relief Fund.
A quiet yet determined leader, Shri Balasaheb Patil’s life work stands tall in the tunnels, dams, and educational institutions he built — each one reflecting his unwavering belief that progress must be both structural and human.
He leaves behind a profound legacy of integrity, vision, and nation-building — one that continues to inspire engineers, entrepreneurs, and educators alike.
The city of Belagavi, and indeed the nation, salutes Shri Balasaheb Patil