RVNL Turns 21: ₹2 Lakh Crore PSU Eyes Global Infrastructure

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Navratna PSU marks two decades of engineering excellence with awards, milestones and a vision stretching from the Himalayas to Rwanda

By TRH News Desk

New Delhi, April 12, 2026 — Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) celebrated its 21st Annual Day on Friday, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi — marking two decades of transforming India’s infrastructure landscape from a modest railway execution agency into a diversified, globally ambitious Navratna PSU.

The celebration was graced by senior Railway Board leadership including Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, Member (Infrastructure) Vivek Kumar Gupta, Member (Traction and Rolling Stock) R. Rajagopal, and Member (Finance) Manjusha Jain. Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ravneet Singh and V. Somanna extended congratulations to the RVNL team.

Two Decades, Two Lakh Crore

In his address, Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar described RVNL’s journey since 2003 as “a matter of pride for the entire railway ecosystem.” He noted that the organisation has delivered over 17,000 kilometres of railway infrastructure with cumulative project execution exceeding ₹2 lakh crore — converting what once appeared to be impossible timelines into successful outcomes.

He singled out the New Pamban Bridge — inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described as India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge — as a symbol of RVNL’s engineering ambition. He also highlighted the Rishikesh–Karnprayag Rail Link, where extensive twin-tube tunnelling in the Himalayan terrain represents one of the country’s most challenging infrastructure undertakings.

From Rail Infra to All Infra

RVNL CMD Saleem Ahmad reflected on the organisation’s evolution from its original mandate of bridging the Indian Railways infrastructure gap to what he called a transition into “an integrated infrastructure company with global ambitions.” Today RVNL executes metro projects across 10 cities including Kolkata, Indore and Chennai, has entered the Bharat Net digital infrastructure contract and the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset programme, and has established an international footprint across Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Rwanda.

He underlined RVNL’s adoption of AI and digital tools for project monitoring, green construction practices, 3D printing technology and renewable energy projects as pillars of its next phase of growth.

Recognising the People Behind the Projects

A highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony, which honoured outstanding contributions across the organisation — 5 shield awards, 14 group awards and 24 individual honours presented to PIUs, project teams and corporate functions spanning rail, metro, tunnelling, overseas projects, finance, HR, ESG and business development.

The evening concluded with a special live performance by playback singer Monali Thakur.

“As RVNL enters its third decade, the organisation’s stated focus is on speed, scale, sustainability and smart execution — underpinning Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” said the PSU in a media statement.

FAQ

Q: What is RVNL and what does it do?

A: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is a Navratna PSU under India’s Ministry of Railways. It executes railway, metro, tunnelling and infrastructure projects across India and internationally.

Q: How much infrastructure has RVNL delivered?

A: RVNL has delivered over 17,000 kilometres of railway infrastructure with cumulative project execution exceeding ₹2 lakh crore since its inception in 2003.

Q: What is RVNL’s international presence?

A: RVNL has projects in Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Rwanda, reflecting its expansion into global infrastructure markets.

Q: What is the New Pamban Bridge?

A: India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, built by RVNL and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — widely cited as one of the country’s most significant recent engineering achievements.

Q: What new sectors is RVNL expanding into?

A: RVNL is diversifying into digital infrastructure through the Bharat Net contract, the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset programme, renewable energy and 3D printing-enabled construction.