ENGINEERING THE INCREDIBLE, DELIVERING THE IMPOSSIBLE

How Afcons is redefining infrastructure by doing what others deem undoable — from Chenab to Atal Tunnel and beyond.

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Not every construction uses just bricks and iron rods; sometimes, what's built shapes history itself. When grit is mixed with cement, what is built is called the engineering marvel, the marvel that the nation feels proud of, the marvel the world looks up to. Afcons is one of the very few infrastructure companies that has constructed pride for us, not once, but they call it The Afcons Way. When the best of the experts says it is undoable, Afcons makes it happen and surprises everyone.

Construction Week India had the privilege of speaking with Krishnamurthy Subramanian, executive vice chairman of Afcons, about the iconic Chenab Bridge—the world’s tallest railway bridge, recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this candid conversation, Mr Subramanian reflects on the spirit behind such pioneering feats, and why Afcons continues to lead where others hesitate to tread.

First of all, congratulations to you and the team! How does it feel to break records and to make history? How does it feel to choose the most challenging task and make it happen?

The feeling is one of deep inner satisfaction. At Afcons, we have always taken pride in taking on projects that are anything but conventional. There have been complex challenges—often delayed, sometimes doubted, and frequently criticised.

But we made it our mission statement to pursue projects that carry a higher purpose. When you are able to do such kind of projects, you are in a different league. What is truly rewarding is how these projects transform the way clients perceive us. We are not just seen as contractors—we become solution providers. And that shift changes everything. The relationship becomes more respectful, the work more meaningful, and the team more motivated. We have experienced this before, and the Chenab Bridge is another proud example of that.