Third edition of Build India Infra Awards 2026 Honours projects’ gems
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the Centre is set to restructure the BOT model, with Rs 2 lakh crore worth of projects to be tendered shortly.
Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, said this while addressing the Third edition of the Build India Infra Awards 2026 in the national Capital on February 24.
The ceremony was organised by Build India Foundation with Primus Partners as Knowledge Partner and the event was graced by Union ministers CR Patil, Sarbanand Sonowal, Sripad Naik, V Somana, industry leaders and policy makers to recognize India’s most impactful infrastructure projects.
In a fireside chat with Primus Co-Founder Davinder Sandhu, Gadkari emphasized the Government’s renewed thrust on the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, stating that projects worth Rs 57,000 crore have already been awarded under the restructured, transparent, and investor-friendly framework. He noted that the strengthened BOT approach will drive sustainable infrastructure growth aligned with India’s economic ambitions.
Addressing the grand award ceremony before giving the awards in the Port Sector, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, said, “The Build India Infra Awards have grown into a meaningful national platform encouraging stakeholders in nation-building. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s infrastructure transformation — especially in ports, shipping and waterways — has gained unprecedented momentum. This is a golden opportunity for 140 crore Indians to work together and build Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Calling out for integrated water management, CR PATIL, Minister of Jal Shakti, said that Water has become the new gold and drinking water access remains fundamental to improving rural livelihoods and long-term sustainability. He also launched the new initiatives River to Reef by EnviroVision — an integrated initiative connecting rivers, wetlands, and oceans into one shared national responsibility.
Congratulating the Build India Foundation, Shripad Naik, Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, said,” Institutions and experts working in roads, railways, aviation, ports, urban transport, water infrastructure, energy, and other critical sectors are accelerating India’s development. It is imperative that we focus on aligning future infrastructure with clean energy adoption and climate resilience.”
While V Somanna, Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti, noted that railway modernisation, station redevelopment and multimodal connectivity are improving passenger experience while supporting regional economic growth, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communications, addressed through Video link, spoke about digital connectivity as a foundational layer for smart infrastructure and inclusive growth.
The event also brought together leading policy voices and sector experts, in a panel discussion on Viksit Bharat with sectoral discussions focusing on technology-led infrastructure, sustainability and future urban connectivity, highlighting the importance of collaboration between Government, industry and knowledge institutions.
Detailing on the third edition of the award, Vaibhav Dange, Co-Founder & Director, Build India Foundation, said that the initiative recognises infrastructure that improves connectivity, efficiency and quality of life, while inspiring the next generation of nation-building projects.
“The growing momentum of the awards is reflected in this third edition, which witnessed strong nationwide participation with 132 nominations evaluated through a rigorous and transparent jury process. The wide representation reflects growing industry confidence in the platform and a shift toward evaluating infrastructure through measurable public value, sustainability outcomes and innovation in execution,” Dange added.
Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa & Jury Chair, said the awards have evolved into a credible institutional platform that evaluates infrastructure not merely on scale, but on measurable outcomes and long-term public value.
