It is true that the impact of COVID-19 impact on India Inc in FY2020 was only for a few days – the last two weeks of March. But many would agree that the Indian economy was already in trouble and COVID-19 only exposed the fault lines.

Nevertheless, despite all the obstacles, uncertainties and challenges, a few entities managed to persevere and prevail, posting growth and exhibiting excellence, keeping their growth intact. And these are the companies, from the universe of construction, contracting, engineering, building materials and construction equipment that the Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training (FIRST) honours– many of whom will be awarded for their outstanding work at the 6thINDIA CONSTRUCTIONFESTIVAL2020.

Organised by FIRST Construction Council and Construction World magazine, the INDIA CONSTRUCTION FESTIVAL has seen participation of the entire Indian construction industry. The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has lauded this platform for its ability and intention of showcasing the best and encouraging the industry by setting standards of excellence.

The India Construction Festival Online, to be held virtually for the first time ever due to the ongoing pandemic, on October 15-16, 2020, will comprise four sub-events:

Once again, the Festival has the partnership of New York-based Engineering News-Record magazine, popularly known as ENR – the world’s oldest and largest circulated engineering magazine – to honour and felicitate not only India’s fastest growing construction companies, India’s Top Challengers and India’s Bestselling Equipment Companies but also felicitating Global Leading Design and Engineering Firms.

Last year, the INDIA CONSTRUCTION FESTIVAL was a celebration of victory! More than 60 awards and honours were conferred upon leading Construction Companies, Global Design and Engineering Firms and Building Materials and Equipment Companies (See box for Winners of 2019).

And, this year too, we will bestow a similar number of awards on deserving companies.

While the assessment criterion for the EQUIPMENT INDIA Awards is based on sales; the CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards follows a statistical model developed by FCC to analyse and present India's Fastest Growing Construction Companies. The model uses financial data of the last six year, and companies are categorised under 'Large Category' if the turnover for the current year is greater than Rs75billion, under 'Medium Category' if the turnover is over Rs20billion but under Rs75 billion, and under 'Small Category' if the turnover is under Rs 20 billion, but over Rs 2 billion. The analysis for both awards is then presented to an eminent jury (independent jury panels for both award categories) to finalise the set of winners from among the shortlisted companies. These are India's first and most prestigious awards recognising the contribution of the construction industry. These are the only set of awards that rank companies based on their financials and profitability.

Further, handpicked by the jury for outstanding contribution to their industry, CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards will once again recognise the ‘CONSTRUCTION WORLD Person of the Year 2020’ in the Public Sector as well as the Private Sector. Further, at the two-day event, the EQUIPMENT INDIA Awards will also recognise the ‘EQUIPMENT INDIA Person of the Year 2020’ title!

FIRST has also created another model for the "Top Challengers" Awards where companies including infrastructure developers, building materials and construction equipment are also considered and selected on the basis of their ability to grow over the previous year despite challenging circumstances. These companies too will be recognised at the CONSTRUCTION WORLD Global Awards.

This year, the esteemed Jury Advisory Panel for the 18^thCONSTRUCTION WORLD GLOBAL AWARDS virtually met on 17^th September, members of which included:

·       Benjamin Breen, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Global Head of Construction, Project Management Institute

·       Farid Ahmed, Divisional Head Marketing – OHT, Apollo Tyres

·       Mohamed Ali Janah, President, IFAWPCA, Maldives

·       Pradeep Singh, Former Vice Chairman, IDFC Projects

·       RK Narayan, COO, Allcargo Logistics Park

·       Vijay Agrawal, Executive Director, Equirus Capital

·       Vipul Roongta, Managing Director and CEO, HDFC Capital Advisors

And, the esteemed Jury Advisory Panel for the 8^thEQUIPMENT INDIA AWARDS virtually met on 24^th September; members include:

·       Anant Raj Kanoria, CEO, iQuippo

·       Arun Sahai, COO, Ahluwalia Contracts (India)

·       Devendra Kumar Vyas, Managing Director, Srei Equipment Finance

·       Farid Ahmed, Divisional Head Marketing – OHT, Apollo Tyres

·       Gaurav Tiwari, GM – Mech, Dilip Buildcon

·       HS Mohan, CEO, Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council

·       Kennady V Kaippally, Country Manager, Bonfiglioli Transmissions

·       Mahesh Madhavan, Head - Construction & Infra Practice, Feedback Advisory

·       NeeravParmar, Senior Vice President - Contracts and Procurement, Shapoorji Pallonji

·       Sameer Malhotra, Director & CEO, Shriram Automall India

·       Samip Desai, Director, Moba Mobile Automation (India)

·       Samir Bansal, GM India, Off-Highway Research

·       Sandip Shah, AVP-Head, Contracts & Procurement, Omkar Realtors

·       Sanjay Koul, Managing Director, Timken India

·       Sanjeev Nimkar, Managing Director, Kirloskar Oil Engines

So tune in on October 15^th and 16^th as we unveil this year’s winners at the INDIA CONSTRUCTION FESTIVAL–the CONSTRUCTION WORLD Person of the Year 2020 in the Public Sector; CONSTRUCTION WORLD Person of the Year 2020 in the Private Sector; India’s Largest and Most Profitable Construction Contractor; India’s Fastest Growing Construction Companies; India’s Fastest Growing Steel Companies; India’s Fastest Growing Paint Companies; India’s Fastest Growing Tile, Ceramic & Sanitaryware Companies; India’s Top Challengers; ENR Top International Design Firms; ENR Top International Contracting Firms; Equipment India Person of the Year 2020; Bestseller in Asphalt Finishers; Bestseller in Backhoe Loaders; Bestseller in Compaction Equipment; Bestseller in Crawler Dozers; Bestseller in Rigid Dump Trucks; Bestseller in Crawler Excavators; Bestseller in Mini Excavators; Bestseller in Mobile Cranes; Bestseller in Motor Graders; Bestseller in Wheeled Loaders; Bestseller in Skid-steer Loaders; Best Debutant Award; Best Innovation Award.