Reviewing the Most Ambitious Construction Projects in India

India is rapidly emerging as a hub of technology, manufacturing, and commerce, with a combination of natural and human resources that few other countries in the world can match. The growth of the building industry reflects this transformation, with construction companies in India remaining committed to sustainability, technology, and automation as they overcome the challenges of large and complex assignments.

Top 10 Construction Projects in India

The USD $25 trillion per year construction industry in India continues to expand, with new residential and infrastructure projects aimed at supporting the needs of the growing population and industrial base. Some of the largest construction projects in India are also among the most recent, with many having been completed in the past few years or are still in progress. 

1. GIFT City

India’s first international financial services center is known as GIFT City. This purpose-built smart city in Gujarat, with a price tag of USD $20 billion, was built to attract and support financial services and IT companies through a combination of cutting-edge infrastructure, high security, and sustainable living options. An advanced city command and control center ensures all aspects of city operation run smoothly.

Over 20,000 people are now living and working in the recently opened GIFT City, proving that easy access to work and safe living conditions are an attractive combination for in-demand workers and their families. Green building practices were incorporated during construction to ensure all commercial and residential buildings were also energy and water-efficient.

2. Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

The USD $13 billion Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is scheduled to open in late 2025. As the name implies, the 1,100-kilometer expressway is being constructed to ease traffic congestion between these two major cities, with at least four lanes in each direction. Most of the blacktop has already been laid, but tunnels and elevated sections of the expressway remain under construction.

To support one of the new mega construction projects in India, expressway designers leveraged 3D modelling, geosynthetics, drone surveys, and cloud-based construction software to ensure real-time data transfer between locations and optimized stakeholder communication. The emphasis on proper grading and drainage will ensure the road remains passable in extreme weather conditions.

3. Nagpur Metro Rail

Another major infrastructure construction project in India that is alleviating traffic congestion and improving quality of life is the Nagpur Metro Rail in the state of Maharashtra. While not yet fully operational, the two new lines and 38 stations already have a daily ridership of over 200,000. The original project budget of USD $1 billion has been exceeded, but public enthusiasm is spurring continued government investment in Phase 2.

Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) selected RIB iTWO as their digital project management platform, with awe-inspiring results. iTWO provided a unified platform for 3D modeling, scheduling (4D), and cost (5D), with the data sets integrated to improve visibility and decision-making. Despite the involvement of 20 major contractors, Phase 1 was completed on time with a high standard of quality, making Nagpur Metro Rail a model for other mega construction projects in India.

4. Navi Mumbai International Airport

The all-new Navi Mumbai International Airport is currently under construction. The airport is scheduled to be completed in five phases as runways, terminals, and supporting facilities are continually added to the 1,160-hectare site. While the first phase will be capable of handling 20 million passengers per year, over 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tons of cargo are expected to pass through the airport once it is fully completed in 2032.

Unique features of this USD $2 billion project include multi-modal (metro, railway, road) connectivity, solar-powered operation, and a dedicated VIP terminal for high-profile travelers. As construction ramps up, smart energy management systems will also come online to minimize the airport’s carbon footprint.

5. Bengaluru Metro

The new Bengaluru Metro is among the construction projects India has enthusiastically supported for over a decade to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the southern region. At 77 kilometers, Bengaluru Metro, also known as Namma Metro, is the second-longest metro network in India, trailing only Delhi Metro in this category.

An intricate combination of underground and elevated railway segments contributed to the project’s inflated price tag, with tunnel boring operations stalled during Phase 1 to repair broken cutting heads. More sophisticated and costly tunnel boring machines (TBMs) were deployed in later phases to avoid similar overruns.

6. Cochin International Airport (CIAL)

Another airport on our list of big construction projects in India is the Cochin International Airport in the southwestern region of the country. Although the Cochin airport originally opened in 1999, a major three-year redevelopment project was launched in 2023 to add eight new aerobridges, new parking bays, an international terminal, and a spacious aero lounge. The USD $10 billion CIAL blueprint includes a total of 163 subprojects, many of which focus on improving sustainability and efficiency.

The complexity of airport construction projects, such as Cochin and Nav Mumbai, calls for advanced software tools from the earliest conceptual stages through full operation. FAA-designed FAARFIELD software was used to support the structural design of the Cochin airfield, and finite analysis software was utilized for runway stress analysis and safety testing.

7. World One Tower

The 76-story World One Tower in Mumbai, opened in 2020, is now the tallest completed building in India. This architectural marvel cost USD $321 million and took almost a decade to build. The results were worth the wait, as the award-winning building, along with the adjoining World View and World Crest Towers developed by the Lodha Group, is counted among the top structural engineering achievements in Indian history.

A combination of sustainable features and first-class amenities has also led to a successful financial outcome for World One Tower, with residents eager to pay top dollar for private landscaped terraces, indoor pools, and distinctive living spaces.

8. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Hyderabad

The second phase of construction for the Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad was recently completed. With an overall budget of USD $35 million, the new campus spans 576 acres and includes 19 types of buildings that can accommodate over 30,000 students and staff members. This includes a large lecture hall, a health center, student housing, and over 100 laboratories.

The energy-efficient and carbon-neutral designs found at the IIT are what make it unique, with green roofs, energy-efficient lighting, and advanced waste management systems creating a campus that is both efficient and enjoyable for IIT students and faculty.

9. Bhadla Solar Park

Those outside of India may not realize that the country is home to some of the world’s largest solar farms. The Bhadla Solar Park in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan covers 5700 hectares of land and is capable of generating 2245 megawatts of power. The park was completed in 2020, with a total project cost of USD $2.175 billion, garnered through a combination of public and private investment. Bhadla Solar Park provided almost 10,000 jobs for locals during construction and operation, and is now responsible for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately four million tons per year. Combined with other new solar and wind farms under construction, this immense solar park will help India meet its Paris Agreement commitments.

10. Central Vista Redevelopment

The Central Vista Redevelopment near New Delhi is one of the most ambitious Indian construction projects ever, with a three-kilometer corridor of the administrative capital being entirely rebuilt by 2026. Sub-projects within this development include new museums, a new Parliament building, and a new residence for the Prime Minister.

The budget of USD $2.4 billion is allowing this century-old government administration center to become much more efficient, functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing than the original Central Vista. Over 6,000 combined onsite and offsite workers are making this effort possible.

What Challenges Do Indian Construction Projects Face?

Construction projects in India continue to succeed despite ongoing labor shortages, rising material costs, and other logistical issues associated with large and complex infrastructure projects. Additional challenges faced by builders in India include:

• Cash flow issues that delay invoice processing and payments
• Poor communication between stakeholders, leading to delays
• Slow adoption of BIM and other advanced software tools.
• Cost overruns due to poor planning or inadequate monitoring

RIB CostX software addresses these challenges directly by providing an all-in-one takeoff, estimating, and reporting solution that minimizes errors while improving efficiency and team communication. CostX is well-suited for BIM integration, but it can also streamline takeoff, estimation, and change management processes using 2D CAD files or scans. 

Conclusion

The biggest construction projects in India reflect the melding of tradition and technology that lies at the heart of modern Indian culture. With the help of major government and private investment, new railways, airports, and sustainable buildings are unlocking the country’s potential while improving the quality of life for millions of citizens.

As part of the integrated suite of RIB Software tools, CostX estimating software is a crucial component of this transformation. Advanced features, such as embodied carbon calculations, subcontractor quote comparisons, and live links between estimates and design and material databases, are bridging the gap between the past and the future of Indian construction.

RIB CostX empowers businesses in India and all around the world to take their quality, efficiency, and collaboration to new heights. Get your free demo today and discover what professional takeoff and estimating software can do for your organization!