L&T Secures Landmark LIGO India Observatory Deal

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a major LIGO India order worth up to ₹2,500 crore from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for the construction of the upcoming LIGO India Observatory in Maharashtra. The company classified the contract as a “significant” order, placing its value between ₹1,000 crore and ₹2,500 crore.

The project will be executed by L&T’s Heavy Civil Infrastructure and Heavy Engineering divisions. The observatory will come up at Aundha in Hingoli district and is expected to be completed within 48 months. The scope of work includes the construction of highly specialized infrastructure, including ultra-precise civil structures and large-scale engineering systems required for advanced scientific research.

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The LIGO India order marks a key step in strengthening India’s role in global gravitational wave research. LIGO, or Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is designed to detect gravitational waves—tiny ripples in space-time caused by massive cosmic events such as black hole collisions. The Indian facility will feature long vacuum beam tubes and high-precision systems to measure minute disturbances in space.

The project is part of India’s larger mega-science initiative and is being developed in collaboration with leading national research institutions under the DAE. Once operational, the observatory will join the global network of gravitational wave detectors, enhancing the accuracy of cosmic observations.

With this win, L&T further strengthens its presence in complex, high-value infrastructure projects tied to advanced scientific and strategic sectors.