Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a significant contract, valued between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 2,500 crore, from the Department of Atomic Energy to establish the LIGO-India Observatory in Aundha, Maharashtra. This flagship "Mega Science" project, a collaboration between premier Indian research institutions and the U.S.-based LIGO Laboratory (Caltech and MIT), aims to detect gravitational waves from cataclysmic cosmic events using laser interferometry. The execution will be a joint effort between L&T’s Heavy Civil Infrastructure and Heavy Engineering verticals, tasked with delivering high-precision, vibration-sensitive infrastructure within a strict 48-month deadline.
The project’s technical scope is highly specialized, requiring L&T to engineer and construct an 8 km ultra-high vacuum beam tube alongside critical vacuum infrastructure. Beyond the primary civil works, the mandate includes the integration of complex mechanical, electrical, and HVAC systems, as well as sophisticated vacuum control and monitoring utilities. By undertaking this 4-kilometer-arm L-shaped detector, L&T further cements its reputation for managing intricate, high-technology projects that push the boundaries of scientific infrastructure in India.
About the Company
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is a massive Indian conglomerate with its fingers in many pies. Their core business is engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solutions across various sectors like infrastructure, power, hydrocarbon (oil & gas) and defence. They also manufacture custom-designed machinery for these industries and even have a real estate arm. L&T is a major player in IT services through subsidiaries like L&T Infotech and Mindtree and provides financial services like rural and housing finance through L&T Finance Holdings. They even handle development projects involving infrastructure, toll management and power generation.
The company has a market cap of over Rs 6 lakh crore and has been maintaining a healthy dividend payout of 33 per cent. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) owns a 13.60 per cent stake in the company as of June 2025. The company has a robust order book valued at Rs 7,33,200 crore as of December 31, 2025. The stock is up by 50 per cent from its 52-week low and has given multibagger returns of 190 per cent in the last 5 years.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
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Rs 7+ lakh crore order book: L&T Wins Significant Order for LIGO India Observatory