Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has jointly secured a significant order from the Department of Atomic Energy for establishing the prestigious LIGO India Observatory in Aundha, Hingoli district, Maharashtra. The project scope covers comprehensive engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for the high-precision civil infrastructure and the critical 8 KM ultra-high vacuum beam tube. The project completion deadline is set at 48 months, reinforcing L&T’s expertise in complex science and technology infrastructure.
L&T Secures Prestigious LIGO India Observatory Contract
On February 24, 2026, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) announced that two of its key business verticals—Heavy Civil Infrastructure (HCI) and Heavy Engineering (HE)—have jointly won a significant order from the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. The purpose of the contract is to establish the LIGO India Observatory, located at Aundha in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district.
About the LIGO Project
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a facility used for detecting gravitational waves caused by cataclysmic cosmic events using laser interferometry across multikilometer-scale detectors. This initiative is recognized as one of India’s flagship ‘Mega Science’ projects, developed in collaboration with premier Indian research institutions (RRCAT and IPR) and the LIGO Laboratory in the United States, with support from Caltech and MIT.
L&T’s Scope of Work
L&T’s comprehensive project scope encompasses:
- Comprehensive engineering, procurement, and construction of vibration sensitive specialised high-precision civil infrastructure.
- Manufacture and installation of the ultra-high vacuum compatible 8 KM beam tube.
- Installation of critical equipment for vacuum infrastructure.
- Integration of mechanical, electrical, HVAC, fire protection, vacuum control, monitoring systems, and all support utilities.
The project completion deadline for this complex endeavor is fixed at 48 months.
Company Background and Order Classification
Larsen & Toubro is noted as a USD 30 billion Indian multinational with expertise across EPC Projects, Hi-Tech Manufacturing, and Services. This order falls under the company’s ‘Significant’ classification, which corresponds to a value between ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 Crore.
The company emphasized that this award reinforces L&T’s strong track record and proven expertise in delivering complex projects in the field of science and technology.
Source: BSE
