In the year 1959,Sri. Vallurupalli Nageswara Rao, founded 'Southern Engineering Works' (SEW) in Vijaywada, A.P. India, along with late Sri. Y. Purnachandra Rao and Sri. Y.M.G. Nageswara Rao as co-founders to pursue civil engineering construction activities.

Part of the prestigious Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in Andhra Pradesh was the first project SEW executed.

The company was awarded a gold medal, by the then Prime Minister of India, Ms. Indira Gandhi, for "record progress of stone masonry in a single day