New Delhi, Feb 27: The third edition of the Build India Infra Awards 2026 concluded at The Ashok Hotel, Chanakyapuri, bringing together senior government leaders, policymakers, industry experts and project developers to celebrate excellence in infrastructure development and recognise projects that are reshaping India’s growth trajectory.
Organised by Build India Foundation with Primus Partners as Knowledge Partner, the awards went beyond acknowledging nominations and placed the spotlight firmly on winning projects and sector leaders whose work has delivered measurable impact across Roads, Railways, Aviation, Ports, Urban Transport, Water Infrastructure, Power and Intelligent Transport Systems, along with a special Trailblazing Infrastructure category for path breaking initiatives.
A major highlight of the evening was the conferment of the prestigious Build India Infra Icon Award upon Mr. Ajit Gulabchand, recognising his outstanding contribution and leadership in shaping India’s infrastructure landscape. The honour underscored the awards’ commitment to celebrating not just projects, but individuals whose vision and execution have had a lasting national impact.
The 2026 edition received 132 nominations from across the country, reflecting robust participation and industry confidence in the platform. After a rigorous and transparent evaluation process, outstanding projects across nine categories were selected for their innovation, scalability, sustainability outcomes and contribution to public value. In total, 45 winners were honoured across nine categories, reflecting the breadth and diversity of infrastructure innovation emerging from across the country.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of senior Union Ministers and national leaders including Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari; Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil; Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Naik; Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna; Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal; Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined online; and India’s G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant. Their participation reinforced the platform’s relevance in India’s infrastructure and development discourse.
In a wide ranging address, Shri Nitin Gadkari said,
“India’s economic growth will depend on high quality, cost efficient infrastructure and faster project execution. Our priority is to reduce logistics costs, adopt green construction technologies and expand multimodal connectivity so that infrastructure becomes a driver of competitiveness and employment.”
He added, “We are encouraging private investment and innovation in highways, logistics parks and alternative construction materials. The future of infrastructure lies in sustainability, digital monitoring and time bound implementation.”
In a fireside conversation with Primus Partners Co Founder Davinder Sandhu, the Minister highlighted the government’s renewed focus on the Build Operate Transfer model, noting that projects worth approximately ₹57,000 crore have already been awarded under a restructured, transparent and investor friendly framework. He explained that the strengthened BOT approach is designed to enhance investor confidence, enable long term capital participation and accelerate delivery of national highway infrastructure aligned with India’s growth ambitions.
Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil said,
“Water infrastructure is directly linked with quality of life. Our mission is to ensure reliable drinking water access, efficient irrigation systems and long term sustainability through integrated planning and community participation.”
He further stated, “Infrastructure development must not only build assets but also secure resources for future generations. Conservation, reuse and technology driven monitoring are essential to India’s water security.”
Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Naik remarked, “Clean energy and infrastructure must move together. Solar adoption, green hydrogen and energy efficient urban systems will shape India’s next growth phase.”
Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna said,
“Railway modernisation and station redevelopment are improving passenger experience while also supporting regional economic growth and connectivity.”
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Ports and waterways are becoming major pillars of logistics efficiency. Expanding coastal shipping and inland waterways will reduce logistics costs and support trade competitiveness.”
Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, joining virtually, said,
“Digital connectivity is now a foundational infrastructure layer. Telecom networks, data infrastructure and digital platforms are enabling inclusive development across urban and rural India.”
India’s G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant said,
“India has demonstrated an unprecedented capacity to execute large infrastructure projects at scale. Collaboration between government and industry will be the defining factor in sustaining long term growth and attracting global investment.”
Pragya Priyadarshini said,
“The Build India Infra Awards are not merely about recognising participation. They are about honouring execution excellence, measurable impact and the courage to build at scale. Each awardee this year represents a benchmark in innovation, sustainability and governance, and together they reflect India’s growing capacity to deliver world class infrastructure.”
She further added,
“By celebrating transformational projects as well as visionary leaders such as Mr. Ajit Gulabchand, the platform reinforces the idea that nation building is driven by institutions and individuals working with purpose. Our effort is to make the awards a credible repository of best practices that can be replicated across states and sectors.”
Davinder Sandhu, Co Founder and Chairman, Primus Partners, said,
“The awards have evolved into a credible institutional platform that evaluates infrastructure not only on scale but on measurable outcomes and public value. It encourages knowledge sharing across government and industry.”
Vaibhav Dange, Co Founder and Director, Build India Foundation, said,
“The initiative recognises infrastructure that improves connectivity, efficiency and quality of life while inspiring organisations to showcase impactful projects and raise execution standards across sectors.”
The nominations were assessed through a structured framework supported by Primus Partners, anchored around Innovation, Impact and Sustainability and guided by the principles of People, Process and Product. The distinguished jury comprising policymakers, sector specialists and industry leaders ensured a transparent and robust selection process.
As the Build India Infra Awards continue to evolve, the initiative is strengthening its position not only as a recognition platform but also as a national knowledge forum that documents successful implementation models and catalyses dialogue on the future of infrastructure in India. With growing participation and deeper engagement each year, the awards reaffirm the central role of sustainable, impact driven infrastructure in shaping India’s long term development vision.