The evening also marked the unveiling of the 30th edition of the Construction World Annual, themed Infrastructure Reset. Featuring contributions from 27 industry leaders, the annual examines how technology, sustainability, finance and talent can transform the construction and infrastructure sectors and shape their next phase of growth.
Welcoming the gathering, Pratap Padode, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, ASAPP Info Global Group, emphasised that the awards recognise sustained performance rather than a single exceptional year. Explaining the evaluation process for the fastest-growing construction companies, he highlighted the six-year financial assessment followed by a jury evaluation of qualitative parameters, including governance, business strategy, resilience, management capability and the quality of growth.
A key change in this year's methodology was a stronger emphasis on cash profits, with greater weightage given to cash profits relative to operating revenue. “Cash is capability,” Padode said, underlining that cash generation enables companies to invest in equipment and technology, manage delayed payments, absorb market shocks and make disciplined project-selection decisions.
He also pointed to the challenges facing the sector, including rising labour and input costs, slower road awards, cautious private investment and project delays. While technology can improve productivity and execution, he stressed that it must be supported by sound project preparation and rational procurement. He further called for stronger project pipelines, deeper private investment and greater international competitiveness among Indian construction and design companies.
The event also featured a presentation on IMPACCT, ASAPP Info Global Group's business intelligence platform, by Tanveer Padode, CEO. His presentation highlighted IMPACCT's capabilities as a project intelligence tool that tracks more than 150,000 projects across India, covering transportation, utilities, public infrastructure, and buildings and factories, from concept to completion.
The awards recognised Vneet S. Jaain, Managing Director, Adani Green Energy, and Manish Mohnot, Managing Director & CEO, Kalpataru Projects International, as joint recipients of the Person of the Year 2026 – Private Sector award.
Among the corporate honours, Larsen & Toubro received the award for Largest and Most Profitable Construction Company of the Year. Companies were also recognised across the Prime, Medium, Large and Ultra Large categories of fastest-growing construction companies. Other awards acknowledged achievements in international contracting and design, project delivery, innovation, equipment and individual leadership.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Falguni Padode, Co-Founder aned Group Managing Editor, ASAPP Info Global Group, who acknowledged the award partners, jury members, participating companies, industry leaders and teams whose support contributed to the event.
The 24th Construction World Global Awards were presented by BKT Tyres, with Autodesk as the Powered by partner and Afcons Infrastructure as the Co-powered by partner. The Gold Partners were Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon, Kalpataru Projects International, GMMCO, Larsen & Toubro, Cemindia Projects and JSW Better Everyday. Vascon Engineers and J. Kumar Infraprojects were the Silver Partners, while Shyam Steel Industries, Gulf Oil and Varindera Constructions were the Associate Partners. The awards were held in association with Engineering News-Record (ENR), with IMPACCT as the Business Intelligence Partner. The Supporting Partners were the Indian Institute of Materials Management, National Highways Builders Federation, Builders' Association of India, International Road Federation and Mumbai First. Construction World, Equipment India and Infrastructure Today were the Official Media Partners.
The Construction World Global Awards continue to provide a platform to recognise performance, leadership and innovation across India's construction and infrastructure ecosystem.
Winners
Person of the Year 2026
Private Sector
Vneet S. Jaain, Managing Director, Adani Green Energy
Manish Mohnot, Managing Director & CEO, Kalpataru Projects International
Fastest-Growing Construction Companies
Prime Category
1.SPML Infra
2.Vascon Engineers
3.GPT Infraprojects
Medium Category
Patel Engineering
Ceigall India
Varindera Constructions
Ahluwalia Contracts
J. Kumar Infraprojects
Large Category
1.Cemindia Projects
2.Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon
3.Dilip Buildcon
Ultra Large Category
1.NCC
2.Kalpataru Projects International
3.Afcons Infrastructure
Largest and Most Profitable Construction Company of the Year
Larsen & Toubro
ENR Top 250 International Contractors
Rank 11: Larsen & Toubro
Rank 60: Shapoorji Pallonji and Company
Rank 66: Elsewedy Electric
Rank 145: Afcons Infrastructure
Rank 179: Global MEP
Rank 212: Gönüç İnşaat
Rank 244: Cemindia Projects
ENR Top 225 International Design Firms
Rank 9: Sidara Group
Rank 22: Larsen & Toubro
Rank 31: Dorsch Consult (India)
Rank 60: Archetype Group
Rank 73: Tata Consulting Engineers
Rank 110: RINA Consulting SpA
Rank 195: Gestion Integral del Suelo – GIS KSA
Nominated Awards
Project Manager of the Year: Dr Prabhakar Baranwal, Godrej Properties
Project Innovation of the Year – Rank 2: Engineers India
Project Innovation of the Year – Rank 1: Kalpataru Projects International
Construction Project of the Year: Phenix Construction Technologies
Emerging Company of the Year: Jakson Infra
Integrated Solution Provider: GMMCO
International Project of the Year: Kalpataru Projects International
Product Innovation of the Year – Rank 2: The House of Abhinandan Lodha
Product Innovation of the Year – Rank 1: Nippon Paint India
Project of the Year – Airports: L&T Construction Transportation Infrastructure IC
Project of the Year – Airports: L&T Construction
Project of the Year – Roads: Ashoka Buildcon
Project of the Year – Real Estate: Kalpataru Projects International
Woman in Construction: Dr Er Sonali Nasikkar, The House of Abhinandan Lodha
Construction Equipment of the Year: CASE Construction Equipment
For more details contact:
FIRST Construction Council
Director@FIRSTconstructionCouncil.com