Federal Engineers

Federal Engineers is tucked away at Plot No. A-54 in the Mahape industrial stretch. It’s part of the TTC area, so you can imagine what the surroundings are like. There are trucks everywhere and the sound of machinery is pretty much the background music of our lives. We’ve been in this spot for a long time, and the walls show it. There’s oil on the floor in some places that no amount of scrubbing will ever get out, but that’s just part of being in an industrial shed. The roof is corrugated metal, so when the monsoon rains hit, you can barely hear yourself think inside. It’s a practical space. We don’t have a front desk or anyone to greet you; you just walk in and find whoever is working. The yard out front is usually filled with bits of metal and old parts we haven't quite decided to throw away yet. Most of us have been here for years, and we know exactly where every tool is kept, even if it looks like a mess to someone else. Mahape is a dusty place, especially in the summer, but we just keep the fans going and stay busy. There’s a canteen a few blocks down that does a decent thali, which is where you’ll find most of us at lunchtime. It isn't a glamorous life, but we like the work and the fact that we've stayed in the same spot for so long.