Economy & Market

Creating larger societal value

Published

12 years ago

January 31, 2015

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ACC has a firm commitment to create larger societal value. The company initiated its community development activities in pre-independence era and since then it has continued to engage with development initiatives with a host communities around its operations.

The communities living around ACC?s operations are the key stakeholders of the organisation. The company actively assists these communities in identifying, prioritising and meeting their developmental aspirations. It has adopted participatory community self-reliance initiatives across its sites in India by creating forums such as community advisory panel (CAP) which acts as a platform for the community, local district administration, NGOs and other opinion groups to come together and implement projects. The panels have proven to be valuable in presenting stakeholder views, review the progress of community projects, obtain timely feedback from stakeholders, and ensuring appropriate delivery of plan initiatives in a participatory method.

New CSR policy
In 2013, ACC revisited its CSR policy in view of the emerging regulatory framework. ACC?s Board constituted a CSR committee to particularly focus on guiding and monitoring of CSR initiatives of the company.

According to Pratyush Panda, Head – CSR, ACC, a wide range of social development initiatives were undertaken in partnership with local communities, government and non-government organisations. ?The initiatives reached out to people residing around ACC?s operational areas as well as to various disasters hit areas around the country. Focus of these initiatives were mainly on enhancing literacy and education for community, preventive health and sanitation, livelihood, employability and income generation, women empowerment, augmentation of community infrastructure, environment and other CSR initiatives such as promotion of local arts, culture and sports,? he says.

During 2013, ACC?s community development initiatives mainly focused on 132 villages, having a population of 0.6 million, located primarily around its 14 plants.

Education for society?s future
?ACC?s initiatives in education benefited 18,380 children in the neighbourhood communities. It has established schools at all its locations, where employees? children and those from surrounding communities are provided quality education,? says Panda. Management of these schools is outsourced to reputed educationists, thereby ensuring that the schools maintain high standards of education. Since most plants are situated in remote hinterlands, the ACC schools are at once the most accessible and invariably among the best in the region. The schools are supported by providing funds and infrastructure for initial construction, meeting a part of the teachers? salaries and up-gradation activities.

ACC continued to support seven Government-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), under a Public Private Partnership scheme (PPP), through a joint initiative with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. Its support focuses on enhancing the skills and employability of the students passing out of these institutes by upgrading the quality of education offered there.

ACC also runs two technical training institutes of its own, both of which enjoy considerable repute as centres providing technical training. The Sumant Moolgaokar Technical Institute (SMTI) at Kymore was first established in 1949 to train young men in specialized trades to become artisans, foremen and first line supervisors. It had its own independent curriculum and certification. Since 2008, the institute works with a revised objective of complementing the education received by engineering diploma trained candidates. In 2013, SMTI trained 120 young men through an 18 month course as Diesel Mechanic-cum-Fitter and Electrical Instrumentation. The other institute managed by it is the ACC Cement Technology Institute (ACTI) which offers specialized technical training to young engineering graduates. ACTI trained 166 boys and 32 girls during the year with both class room and practical trainings in operation and maintenance of cement plants.

Community development
The thrust in this respect comprises promoting health, women?s empowerment and creating livelihoods. These initiatives benefited more than 109,000 people directly while twice as many people were indirect beneficiaries.

Promoting health: Panda elaborates on AAC?s initiatives on promoting health. ?Health being one of the prime concerns of the community and critical for general wellbeing of ACC?s stakeholders, significant initiatives were undertaken in this domain. Total 109,450 people benefited from our various health and nutrition related initiatives.? ACC?s health initiatives mainly focus on preventive health of the community. Active awareness campaigns are undertaken to enhance communities understanding about various disease prevention and healthy ways of living. Regular preventive health support to the community is reached out through health camps and mobile health vans. Most of these plant sites are situated in remote parts of the country, with little access to adequate healthcare and medical services. ACC supports the local administration in promoting national health campaigns on important issues such as malaria, prevention and immunisation and DOTS. During 2013, 3,273 general and special health camps were conducted to reach out preventive care to community members. In addition, regular support to the ACC hospitals support was also extended to various government Primary Health Care centres and Community Health Care centres.

Special initiatives in healthcare and nutrition are taken for women and children in coordination with health authorities. Communities are mobilised to participate in programmes for immunisation, anti natal care, post natal care and birth spacing methods. Iron folic acid tablets were provided to prevent anemia among pregnant mothers and adolescent girls.

?The support to Anganwadi initiative would be one such example. Anganwadis are integral part of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) that plays a vital role in rural areas for overall development of children as well as support to pregnant and lactating mothers. ACC provided support to 132 Anganwadis that are serving the host communities. This has resulted in better supply and use of government?s medicine supplies through AWC which has direct impact on infant and maternal mortality,? explains Panda.

Other support activities included health and accidental insurance for Self Help Group (SGH) members and drivers in ACC?s supply chain, subsidised ambulance facility to villagers for their emergency needs and subsidised hospitalization of villagers.

Women?s empowerment: Various initiatives are pursued to promote skill building and income generating schemes for local women groups. Women SHGs are imparted relevant training in their selected livelihoods and supported in the establishment of micro-enterprises. As many as 737 SHGs were organised during the year. Members of these new as well as old SHGs were provided training for group cohesiveness, book-keeping, product development, marketing of the products, market linkages, bank linkages and exposure to best practices in SHG functioning. Some of these groups have initiated their own micro enterprises. Through bank linkages and inter- loaning, these members generated a total savings of Rs 1.52 crore.

ACC AHEAD (Association for Health, Education and Development), the volunteering wing of the company?s ladies clubs at all plants, set up in 2008, continued to support social volunteering and community programmes with special emphasis on empowering women. The group has been successful in creating livelihood opportunities for numerous community women in the areas of tailoring, embroidery, knitting, making masala, pickles, fancy bags, gloves and in making, disposable cups and plates.

Livelihood and employability: ?ACC believes in empowerment of people and assisting them in sustainability of their livelihood, as that will make the community self-reliant and increase their self-respect,? says Panda. During the year, ACC?s various initiatives in this direction benefited 17,288 people. Under its employability initiatives, it supported training of 3,579 youth from poor families in the host community, of which, 2,501 persons were placed with various employers enabling a similar number of families to live above poverty line.

Building infrastructure for liveable neighborhoods
ACC plays a vital role in facilitating the creation and maintenance of basic infrastructure around all its operations such as roads, safe drinking water, deepening of ponds, and repairs to schools, Anganwadi and other community amenities. ACC makes every possible effort to make these basic necessities available to the neighbourhood communities, according to Panda.

Wherever needed, NGO partners join in to ensure quality execution of the projects. Efforts are also taken to bring benefits of government schemes for the welfare of village communities. Previously, ACC?s initiatives for infrastructure development benefited 435,392 people. Each plant contributed in creation of water harvesting structures and installation of hand pumps for drinking water. Excavation of pond for irrigation and other water uses, directly and indirectly benefited 272,418 people, whereas drinking water initiatives benefited 72,294 people.

Disaster response initiatives
ACC?s disaster relief support initiatives in these disaster affected areas of Uttarakhand and Maharashtra benefited 8,703 people. Uttarakhand faced devastation during disastrous flash floods in June 2013. ACC?s Disaster Response Team (DRT) reached out to affected villages in Uttarkashi region. 24 volunteers from various units of north region joined hands with Sales Unit, Dehradun. ACC?s DRT provided relief to the people through ACC Mobile Health Unit, doctors, nurses and pharmacists, along with safe drinking water, food and clothing.

CSR activities ACC?s corporate social responsibility helps the company in various ways. From building a more motivated workforce to becoming a sustainable entity, ACC aligns its initiatives keeping in mind its goals. Some such examples are as below:
Alternate fuels & raw materials (AFR): The concept of AFR involves substituting mainstream non-renewable fuel resources like coal with replenishable alternate fuels. A subsidiary activity of AFR is waste co-processing which is basically a means of waste management. Under the mainstream AFR activities, currently the Gagal plant is using mill scale (a reject from steel rolling mills) as a substitute for iron ore.

A few of waste management initiatives undertaken by ACC are as follows:
Maddukrrai Solid Waste Management Initiative: ACC Maddukarrai Cement Works in association with the local Panchayat, and NGO Hand in Hand/SEED Trust launched the ?Clean & Green Madukkarai?. The vision behind the initiative was to make Madukkarai a plastic and garbage-free community by 2015.

Team Madukkarai also plans to set up a bio-gasifier plant which consumes the bio-waste and produce methane gas which will be converted to electricity. This electricity will be used for lighting the local street lamps.

Co-processing of pine needles as alternative fuel at Gagal: Every year, particularly during the summer months, large numbers of such fires create havoc in the forests of the sub Himalayas. Forest fires cause immense loss of nutrient, organic material from the soil, damage to soil micro-organisms, change in soil structure, destruction of plantations and local extermination of small animals and plants.

One of the main reasons of the fire spreading to a large region is the presence of large spreads of dry leaves and wood at the bottom of the forest cover. ACC Gagal proposed a workable solution to AK Thakur, DFO of Suket Forest Division, to permit the company?s CSR team along with local villagers to collect pine needles (locally called Chalaru) for co-processing in the cement kiln at Gagal.

Green Building Centres (GBC)
The ACC GBC is designed to be a state-of-the-art one-stop-shop for housing expertise which will offer locally produced, eco-friendly, easy-to-use and reasonably priced construction products.

oVisitors to the centre get a first-hand glimpse of locally produced and reasonably priced construction products, with ready access to knowledge and training on how to use and apply these products in a rural context. The ACC GBC comes fully equipped with a quality control laboratory. The centre also has equipment which enables builders to manufacture the products on their own and thus achieve further savings,? says Panda.

ACC has collaborated with architects and experts who can provide consultations regarding the project, product detail, application and design.

ACC associates with well-established enterprises as well as NGOs to promote local entrepreneurial talent. While the entrepreneur is responsible to manage the centre, ACC supports the venture by providing its branded products backed with proven technical expertise. The entrepreneur runs it as a business and thus has an incentive to work for its success, creating local jobs along the way. This helps in the development of talent among the local rural population. The materials available at the ACC GBC are produced from local resources and incorporate waste materials like fly ash, helping to reduce its carbon footprint significantly and in preserving earth?s natural resources, while simultaneously keeping costs down.

ACC?s stellar employees
ACC?s understands that CSR activities go a long way in building relationships. ACC has a large workforce of about 9,000 people, comprising experts in various disciplines assisted by a dedicated workforce of skilled persons. ACC employees, referred to as the ACC parivar, come from all parts of the country and belong to a variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. This helps ACC in connecting better with various communities across the country and to understand their needs. The dedication of the employees to pursue the CSR goal of the company reflects the special stellar qualities they possess. This has led to ACC employees being recognized as ?value-adding? human capital in the industry.

Pratyush Panda, Head – CSR, ACC
ACC believes in empowerment of people and assisting them in sustainability of their livelihood, as that will make the community self- reliant and increase their self-respect.

Economy & Market

The Road Ahead Begins Here

Published

2 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

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The future of India’s roads took centrestage at RAHSTA Expo 2026, where policymakers, contractors and industry leaders came together under one roof. The event blended thought leadership, technology showcase and industry recognition into a single powerful platform.

India’s roads and highways community gathered in full strength at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, for the 16th edition of the RAHSTA Expo (Roads and Highways Sustainable Technologies & Advancement). Over two action-packed days, the event brought together policymakers, contractors, consultants, developers, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, technology providers and investors to deliberate on the future of India’s ,infrastructure while showcasing the latest innovations driving the sector.

The event culminated in the prestigious RAHSTA Awards, where Shri. Ajay Tamta, Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, felicitated organisations and professionals for their outstanding contributions to road construction, engineering, safety, sustainability and technology. With leading contractors, senior government officials, industry veterans and technology providers under one roof, the event reaffirmed RAHSTA’s position as one of India’s most influential platforms for the roads, highways, bridges and tunnels ecosystem.

Organised by FIRST Construction Council in association with ASAPP Info Global Group, RAHSTA has steadily evolved beyond an exhibition into a platform where policy, technology, engineering and business converge to address the opportunities and challenges shaping India’s next generation of transport infrastructure.

Beyond expansion, towards value

The conference opened with a thought-provoking address by Pratap Padode, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Construction World, who observed that India’s highways sector has reached an important inflection point. Introducing this year’s theme – ‘From Expansion to Value: The Next Phase of India’s Highways’ – he noted that while the country has successfully expanded its road network over the past two decades, the industry’s priorities are now shifting towards building infrastructure that delivers greater lifecycle value, durability, safety and operational efficiency. With funding pressures, asset monetisation and evolving project models changing the sector’s dynamics, he said the focus must now move beyond kilometres constructed to the quality and long-term performance of every asset.

Dr Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), reminded delegates that successful infrastructure delivery is ultimately a collective effort. Emphasising on collaboration between government, industry and engineering professionals, he remarked, “There is no loser in a winning team, and there is no winner in a losing team,” urging stakeholders to work together to deliver projects with quality, financial sustainability and technological excellence.

Delivering the keynote address, Bidur Kant Jha, Director, New Technologies for Highway Development, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), outlined the Government’s long-term vision for India’s highway network. Highlighting the country’s 6.26 million km roads network, he spoke about the growing adoption of digital planning tools such as BIM and GIS, bridge health monitoring systems and Integrated Smart Transport Corridors under the Vision 2047 roadmap. He emphasised that while India remains open to global innovations, every new technology must be adapted to Indian conditions before large-scale deployment.

Addressing the gathering during the awards ceremony, Tamta underlined the increasing role of specialised equipment and modern construction technologies in executing complex infrastructure projects across diverse terrains. Referring to challenging tunnel projects in Uttarakhand, he noted how advanced machinery has transformed execution capabilities, while also acknowledging the rapid evolution of Indian contractors into globally competitive infrastructure companies. Recognising excellence through industry awards, he said, motivates organisations to continually raise performance standards and embrace innovation.

Meanwhile, Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, highlighted that infrastructure development must increasingly focus on integrated urban mobility. Reflecting on Mumbai’s engineering journey – from its historic underground utility network to the Coastal Road and other transformative projects – he underlined that future infrastructure planning must seamlessly integrate roads, metro systems and public transport to create efficient, multimodal cities.

Uttar Pradesh takes centrestage

One of the highlights of the second day was Uttar Pradesh’s comprehensive presentation on its infrastructure-led industrial transformation.

Srihari Pratap Shahi, IAS, Additional CEO, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), demonstrated how the state’s expanding expressway network is evolving into a catalyst for industrial development through integrated manufacturing and logistics clusters. Expressways, he noted, are no longer merely transport corridors but engines of economic competitiveness.

Building on this narrative, Deeksha Jain, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), showcased the state’s rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem supported by extensive expressway connectivity, dedicated freight corridors, airports, industrial townships and investor-friendly policies. She highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s strong manufacturing growth, expanding industrial land bank, plug-and-play infrastructure and increasing use of digital governance to facilitate investments.

Further underlining the significance of the platform, Deepak Kumar, IAS, Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner, Government of Uttar Pradesh, remarked, “RAHSTA provides an excellent platform for states to showcase our infrastructure progress and investment ecosystem. Uttar Pradesh has transformed significantly over the past decade, backed by more than 34 investor-friendly industrial policies, and platforms like RAHSTA help communicate these developments to industry stakeholders from across the country.”

Ideas that shaped the industry conversation

The two-day conference featured seven panel discussions, each examining a critical dimension of India’s evolving roads and highways sector.

The opening discussion on ‘Financing Roads & Highways in a Capital-Constrained Era’ brought together experts from Cube Highways, NIIF, SBI Capital Markets, Centrum Capital and Bandhan Infra Fund, who examined how the financing landscape is changing. Discussions revolved around asset monetisation, InvITs, institutional investments and new funding structures, with panellists agreeing that better project preparation, transparent governance and predictable returns will be crucial for attracting long-term capital into infrastructure.

Attention then shifted to execution realities during the panel on ‘Contractors’ Perspective: Execution Realities, Risks & the Quality Imperative.’ Representatives from GHV Infra Projects, PNC Infratech, NCC and Maccaferri candidly discussed the challenges of delivering projects amid contractual complexities, land acquisition delays, rising costs and tight timelines. While execution pressures remain significant, the discussion reinforced that better collaboration across the project value chain is essential for achieving both speed and quality.

Day 2 opened with a technically rich discussion on ‘Designing Roads for Sustainability, Durability & Climate Resilience’. Experts from CSIR-CRRI, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, Zydex Group and SRMB Steel explored advanced pavement technologies, recycled materials, climate-resilient designs and scientific construction practices that can significantly improve durability while lowering lifecycle costs. Sustainability, they agreed, must become an integral part of road design rather than an afterthought.

The subsequent session on ‘Bridges & Tunnels: Complex Engineering, Safety & Future Readiness’ highlighted the growing complexity of India’s infrastructure projects. Panellists discussed advances in structural engineering, digital monitoring, risk management and safety practices that are enabling the successful delivery of increasingly ambitious bridge and tunnel projects across the country.

Technology remained a recurring theme during the discussion on ‘Technology as a Risk-Mitigation Tool for Developers & Investors’. Experts explained how AI, BIM, drones, predictive analytics, digital twins and intelligent monitoring systems are helping improve project planning, minimise execution risks, strengthen quality assurance and enhance asset management throughout the infrastructure lifecycle.

The construction equipment panel brought together leading industry experts to examine how technology, sustainability and digitalisation are redefining construction equipment in an era of rising cost pressures. Discussions centred on enhancing productivity, reducing lifecycle costs and preparing the industry for India’s infrastructure ambitions leading up to 2047.

The conference concluded with an engaging CXO Forum on ‘Rebuilding Confidence in India’s Roads & Highways Sector’, where senior industry leaders emphasised that stronger governance, better project preparation, digitalisation, transparent contracting and closer public-private collaboration will be essential to sustain India’s infrastructure growth over the coming decades.

Technology and recognition under one roof

Beyond the conference halls, RAHSTA Expo reflected the technological transformation underway across India’s road infrastructure ecosystem. Leading equipment manufacturers, technology companies and material suppliers showcased advanced construction equipment, intelligent digital platforms, pavement technologies, structural materials and productivity-enhancing solutions designed to improve project efficiency and asset performance. The exhibition created valuable opportunities for contractors, consultants, government agencies and project developers to evaluate new technologies while interacting directly with solution providers.

The event also served as a celebration of excellence through the RAHSTA Awards 2026, which recognised outstanding achievements across road construction, contracting, materials, equipment, technology, safety, sustainability and infrastructure development. Presented by Minister Tamta, the awards honoured organisations that are setting new benchmarks for quality, innovation and execution across India’s roads sector.

RAHSTA Expo 2026 also received extensive support from across the infrastructure ecosystem. Alongside leading corporate sponsors, the event was backed by industry bodies including the Builders Association of India (BAI), Construction Equipment Rental Association (CERA), Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), International Road Federation (IRF), CSIR-CRRI, CILT India, All India Transporters Welfare Association, Hydraulic Trailer Owners Association (HTOA), Gujarat Contractors Association, Bitumen Forum, Fluid Power Society of India, Indian Institute of Material Management, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Mumbai First, reflecting the industry’s collective commitment to advancing India’s road infrastructure.

As the curtains came down on the two-day event, one message resonated throughout the conference: India’s highways story is entering a new chapter. While expansion will continue, the future will increasingly be defined by smarter planning, stronger partnerships, digital transformation, sustainable engineering and long-term value creation. By bringing together the entire infrastructure value chain on a single platform, RAHSTA Expo 2026 once again demonstrated why it has become one of the country’s most influential forums for shaping the future of roads, highways, bridges and tunnels.

Economy & Market

Fornnax Names Lukas Baur as Authorised Service Partner to Bolster EU Operations

Published

3 weeks ago

July 23, 2026

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Strapline: Fornnax Technology has appointed NOBA Maschinenservice’s Lukas Baur as its authorised service partner for the European Union, strengthening its commitment to delivering fast, reliable, and localised after-sales support across the region.

Fornnax Technology, a leading manufacturer of industrial shredding solutions, has announced the appointment of Mr. Lukas Baur of NOBA Maschinenservice as its authorised service partner for the European Union. The partnership, formalised under the authorisation of Fornnax CEO Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, reinforces the company’s commitment to providing dependable, localised service support to its expanding customer base across Europe.

Strengthening Service Through Proven Expertise

With over two decades of experience in servicing, maintaining, and overhauling industrial shredders, Mr. Baur brings extensive technical expertise to the partnership. His capabilities span welding, hardfacing, shaft and knife rebuilding, complex assembly, hydraulics, and complete electrical engineering services, delivered in collaboration with a trusted partner company based in Halle/Saale.

Operating from Worbis, Germany, Mr. Baur is strategically positioned to provide emergency support across the European Union within 24 hours, covering an operational radius of approximately 1,000 kilometres.

Supporting this capability is a well-equipped service infrastructure comprising 12 Mercedes Sprinter service vans, a team of 24 skilled technicians, specialised bearing-change tools, a fully equipped hydraulic workshop, and a 1,000-square-metre facility with a five-ton crane track. Together, these resources position his team to manage the complete spectrum of Fornnax’s European service requirements efficiently and reliably.

Partnership Driven by Industry Insight

Having spent years servicing Eldan, Lindner, and Vecoplan shredders across the European recycling industry, Mr. Baur’s decision to collaborate with Fornnax is rooted in his understanding of market needs and customer expectations. His experience has provided valuable insight into what recycling plant operators require—not only from their machinery but also from the service teams supporting them.

According to Mr. Baur, Fornnax’s reputation for robust machine construction, superior wear protection, and maintenance-friendly design made the partnership a natural fit.

The collaboration comes at a time when Europe’s tyre recycling industry is facing mounting challenges, including rising cost pressures, shrinking margins, delayed investments, and a shortage of skilled labour. Mr. Baur believes these conditions reinforce the need for technically strong service partners capable of delivering rapid, dependable support.

Commenting on the partnership, he said, “Fornnax, with its exceptional price-performance ratio and superior quality, has the potential to become a market leader in Europe. We would like to be their service partner in this journey.”

Comprehensive Support Across the Equipment Lifecycle

As Fornnax’s authorised service partner, Mr. Baur will oversee the complete lifecycle support of the company’s equipment throughout the European Union. His responsibilities will include installation, commissioning, preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, and spare parts support across mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems.

Looking ahead, he also plans to develop a centralised spare parts distribution hub for European customers, particularly if Fornnax establishes a warehouse facility in Worbis to facilitate faster deliveries. To further strengthen service coverage, Mr. Baur intends to expand operations by adding two to three additional service teams and vehicles each year, progressively increasing capacity across the continent.

A Shared Commitment to Customer Excellence

Highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of Fornnax, said:

“We strongly believe that by continuously improving our service quality and customer satisfaction index, we can build long-term relationships with our customers. Higher customer satisfaction leads to greater trust, which significantly increases repeat orders and ultimately drives sustained growth in our sales revenue.”

This customer-first philosophy underpins Fornnax’s strategy of building a dedicated European service partner network instead of relying solely on remote support. With Mr. Baur joining this network, customers across the European Union will benefit from faster response times, expert technical assistance, and dedicated on-ground support from a partner with extensive experience in high-throughput shredding operations.

Mr. Baur’s appointment also reflects Fornnax’s broader ambition to establish itself as the preferred shredding solutions provider for the European recycling industry, marking another important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

Concrete

Nuvoco Vistas launches Limla cement plant, expands Gujarat footprint

Published

4 weeks ago

July 13, 2026

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Nuvoco Vistas opens a 2 MMTPA grinding unit at Limla, entering Gujarat and advancing its target of 35 MMTPA capacity by FY 2028.

Surat (Gujarat)

Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Ltd, a part of Nirma Group and one of India’s leading building materials company, has inaugurated the Limla Cement Plant in Surat (Gujarat), one of Vadraj Cement Limited’s (VCL) principal manufacturing facilities. The commissioning represents a key milestone in Nuvoco’s acquisition and restoration of VCL, while supporting the company’s expansion across the Western Indian cement market.

Vadraj Cement Limited is a subsidiary of Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited and has installed cement capacity of 6 MMTPA across its assets. The Limla inauguration therefore represents the first operational step in the acquired platform’s wider revival, while the Kutch facilities provide clinker supply, mineral security and coastal logistics support for the western business.

Nuvoco completed its acquisition of Vadraj Cement Limited, then under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, after paying a consideration of Rs 1,800 crore in June 2025. VCL’s asset portfolio comprises a clinker unit at Kutch and a grinding unit at Limla in Surat. It also includes high-quality captive limestone reserves and a captive jetty at Kutch, supporting more efficient logistics. Following the takeover, Nuvoco began an extensive programme of restoration, refurbishment and expansion at both locations, leading to the commissioning of the Limla plant.

The Limla Cement Plant is expected to support a phased increase in sales volumes across Gujarat. It will also help Nuvoco supply neighbouring markets in Western Maharashtra and release cement capacity from its northern plants, which can consequently be redirected towards markets in North India. The plant will manufacture a full portfolio comprising Ordinary Portland Cement, Portland Slag Cement, Portland Pozzolana Cement and Portland Composite Cement. It will additionally produce the complete Nuvoco Duraguard range, including the premium Nuvoco Duraguard Microfibre product. The acquisition is also expected to generate operational synergies with Nuvoco’s existing plants at Nimbol and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, improving logistics optimisation and market reach across important regional markets.

The grinding unit at the Limla Cement Plant was completed ahead of schedule, with 2 MMTPA of capacity now inaugurated to expand Nuvoco’s operating scale and customer reach. After Vadraj Cement’s assets become fully operational, plants in North and West India are expected to account for nearly 40 per cent of Nuvoco’s total cement capacity. This will broaden the company’s manufacturing network, strengthen access to high-growth markets and support its plan to increase consolidated cement capacity to 35 MMTPA by FY 2028, reinforcing its longer-term growth strategy.

Commenting on the development, Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd, said: “The inauguration of the Limla Grinding Unit in Surat is an important milestone in Nuvoco’s growth journey and demonstrates our commitment to disciplined, value-accretive expansion. Gujarat is strategically significant for Nuvoco, with substantial opportunities arising from infrastructure investment, industrial growth, rapid urbanisation and continuing demand from the housing and construction sectors. The facility strengthens our regional footprint, improves operational flexibility and increases our ability to serve customers across northern and western markets with greater reliability and efficiency.”

He added: “Through the Vadraj acquisition, we have refurbished and restarted a strategically important asset, returning it to operations in record time through strong execution and collaboration between teams. The achievement demonstrates our ability to create value from acquired assets, fulfil our commitments and retain the confidence of stakeholders. It also highlights the strength of our project delivery capabilities and our continued focus on building sustainable, profitable growth over the long term.”

Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited is a building materials company whose vision is to build a safer, smarter and more sustainable world. It is among the leading players in East India and has a significant presence across North and West India. Nuvoco began operations in 2014 with a greenfield cement plant at Nimbol, Rajasthan. It later acquired Lafarge India Limited, which had entered India in 1999, followed by Emami Cement Limited in 2020 and Vadraj Cement Limited in April 2025. The company has also announced an expansion in eastern India through a new grinding mill at the Arasmeta Cement Plant, supported by several debottlenecking programmes involving equipment upgrades, process improvements and internal capacity initiatives. These developments place Nuvoco on track to achieve total cement capacity of approximately 35 MMTPA. The company reported total income of Rs 11,362 crore in FY 2025-26, reflecting its continuing growth trajectory.

Nuvoco operates a diversified portfolio across three segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete and Modern Building Materials. Its cement portfolio includes Concreto, Duraguard, Double Bull, PSC, Nirmax and Infracem, covering Ordinary Portland Cement, Portland Slag Cement, Portland Pozzolana Cement and Portland Composite Cement. Its pan-India RMX business provides value-added products under Concreto for performance concrete, Artiste for decorative concrete, InstaMix for ready-to-use bagged concrete, X-Con covering M20 to M60 grades, and Ecodure for specialised green concrete. Nuvoco has supplied materials to projects including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Aquatic Gallery at Science City in Ahmedabad, and metro railway projects in Delhi, Jaipur, Noida and Mumbai.