12th EPC World Awards 2026: Honouring the Architects of India’s Infrastructure Future
India’s infrastructure story is entering a decisive decade—where ambition alone is no longer enough, and execution has become the true currency of progress. Against this evolving landscape, the 12th EPC World Awards 2026 emerges not just as a platform of recognition, but as a reflection of an industry redefining its priorities—from scale to precision, from intent to delivery, and from vision to measurable impact.
At a time when India’s infrastructure ambitions are scaling unprecedented heights, execution excellence has emerged as the defining differentiator between vision and reality. Against this backdrop, the 12th EPC World Awards 2026, hosted by EPC World Media Group at Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi, stood as a powerful testament to the organizations and leaders who are not just building projects—but shaping the nation’s future.
Bringing together over 250 distinguished delegates—including policymakers, industry stalwarts, consultants, and technology innovators—the event reaffirmed its stature as one of the most credible and prestigious recognitions in India’s infrastructure ecosystem.
Setting the Tone: From Vision to Execution
What distinguished this year’s edition was its sharp intellectual positioning, with the evening commencing with a high-impact leadership dialogue titled “EPC 2030: From Vision to Execution – Building Infrastructure that Delivers.” At a critical juncture, as India transitions into a new infrastructure decade, the session explored one of the sector’s most pressing challenges—execution certainty.
Moving beyond broad ambitions, the discussion delved into fundamental structural questions, examining how India can effectively bridge the gap between policy vision and on-ground delivery, and whether speed and quality can truly coexist in the execution of mega infrastructure projects. It also evaluated the effectiveness of existing EPC contracting and risk allocation models in ensuring predictable outcomes, while emphasizing the importance of financial discipline, particularly in maintaining stable cash flows. The role of technology in redefining execution benchmarks emerged as a key theme, alongside concerns around whether the sector possesses the necessary human and institutional capacity to deliver the next wave of complex projects.
Overall, the panel underscored a decisive shift in the industry narrative—from merely awarding projects to ensuring their successful delivery—thereby setting a strong and relevant context for the awards that followed.
Leadership Voices Driving the Narrative
The inaugural ceremony was marked by a special address from Shri Ajay Tamta, Hon’ble Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, who emphasized the need for innovation-led execution, sustainable infrastructure practices, and operational excellence at scale to drive the next phase of India’s infrastructure development.
The ceremony was formally led by Tejasvi Sharma, Editor-in-Chief & Managing Director, EPC World Media Group, alongside Ashutosh Dev, Director, Deloitte (Knowledge Partner), in the presence of an esteemed jury and industry dignitaries.
Reflecting on the significance of the platform, Tejasvi Sharma remarked that the Awards continue to recognize those who are not only delivering complex infrastructure but also setting new benchmarks through resilience and innovation.
Ashutosh Dev added that as the sector evolves, celebrating forward-thinking leadership becomes essential to sustaining long-term growth and transformation.
Recognizing Excellence Across the Infrastructure Spectrum
The 12th edition honoured outstanding achievements across key sectors—roads & highways, urban infrastructure, energy, airports, mining, and consulting—reflecting the diversity and dynamism of India’s infrastructure landscape.
Among the evening’s most prestigious recognitions, Jayanta Basu, Managing Director of Cemindia Projects Ltd, was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering contribution to India’s ports and maritime infrastructure. Reflecting on a journey that spans four decades, Basu remarked that when marine construction began in India, the sector operated with limited technology and resources, relying largely on courage, experimentation, and perseverance. He noted that the industry learned through failures and challenges, eventually contributing to the development of India’s modern maritime infrastructure. He further emphasized that the recognition belonged not only to him, but to the colleagues and teams whose collective efforts made the journey possible.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of Bridge And Roof Company (India) Ltd, was recognized for Distinguished Leadership in Public Sector Engineering, acknowledging his contribution toward strengthening execution capability in India’s public infrastructure ecosystem.
In another key individual honour, G. Vinod, Executive Vice President and Head – Operations at Larsen & Toubro, was named Infra Person of the Year for his leadership in the execution of India’s largest high-speed rail package and several large-scale infrastructure initiatives. Speaking on the recognition, Vinod described leading the MAHSR package as both a privilege and a responsibility, crediting the achievement to the unwavering commitment and dedication of the entire project team that is helping shape the future of high-speed connectivity in India and beyond.
The awards also recognized Mohan Ramesh, Vice President and Task Force Leader – MAHSR C6, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, whose four-decade-long contribution to EPC construction reflects the collaborative spirit that drives India’s infrastructure growth. Reflecting on his professional journey, Ramesh stated that the honour represented the collective dedication of engineers, consultants, clients, vendors, and every stakeholder who contributed across 41 years of EPC execution. According to him, infrastructure development is not merely about constructing projects, but about building the nation’s future through shared commitment and expertise.
The awards further showcased corporate excellence, highlighting organizations that are redefining infrastructure delivery through innovation, scale, and specialization. NTPC Green Energy was honoured for its outstanding contribution to green hydrogen mobility and clean transportation, while Welspun Enterprises was recognized as an outstanding company in specialized construction. Larsen & Toubro received accolades for its contribution to airport projects, and Cemindia Projects was awarded for excellence in roads and highways construction in the very large projects category. MKC Infrastructure was acknowledged for its contribution to roads and highways in the large projects segment, while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was felicitated for its outstanding contribution to urban infrastructure development.
Further reflecting the depth and specialization within the sector, several organizations were recognized for achievements in niche areas. BTL EPC was honoured for its work in mechanised coal handling in the mining sector, while Navi Mumbai International Airport was recognized as an outstanding airport project. BPCL received recognition for its contribution to oil and gas infrastructure, and AECOM India was named Infra Consultant of the Year. Zydex Industries was also acknowledged for its innovative construction chemicals for road infrastructure.
Collectively, these recognitions underscored a significant shift in the industry—where infrastructure excellence is increasingly defined not merely by scale, but by technology integration, sustainability, execution capability, and specialized expertise.
Beyond Recognition: A Platform for Industry Evolution
Over the years, the EPC World Awards have evolved from a recognition platform into a thought leadership forum that reflects the sector’s changing priorities.
The integration of a strategic panel discussion before the awards ceremony is a defining feature. It reinforces an important idea: Recognition must be grounded in the realities of execution.
By aligning industry leaders on the challenges of delivery before celebrating success, the platform elevates the awards from ceremonial acknowledgment to sectoral introspection and forward thinking.
The Road Ahead: Towards EPC 2030
As India advances towards its long-term infrastructure goals—aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047—the EPC sector will play a pivotal role in translating ambition into reality.
The conversations and recognitions at the 12th EPC World Awards point to a clear direction:
- Greater emphasis on execution certainty
- Smarter contracting and risk-sharing frameworks
- Financial discipline and liquidity support
- Rapid technology adoption
- Stronger institutional and human capacity
Above all, the sector must embrace a mindset shift—from building projects to delivering outcomes that endure.
Conclusion
The 12th EPC World Awards 2026 was not merely a celebration of achievements; it was a powerful reflection of an industry undergoing a fundamental transformation. Today’s infrastructure sector is more ambitious in its vision, more accountable in its execution, and more innovative in its approach than ever before. Most importantly, it is increasingly aligned with a singular purpose—delivering infrastructure that drives tangible, long-term transformation for the nation.
As EPC World Media Group continues to document and shape this evolving narrative, the Awards stand as a definitive industry benchmark—recognizing excellence, inspiring forward momentum, and influencing the future direction of infrastructure development in India.
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