The word admired conveys respect, credibility, and aspiration—qualities that are hard to quantify yet instantly recognised. Since 2021, Construction World has honoured such excellence through India’s Most Admired Construction Brands, spotlighting companies that rise above competition to build trust, leadership, and enduring value.In 2025, this recognition carries deeper meaning. With India advancing toward a $7.5 trillion economy by 2031 and the construction sector expected to sustain annual growth of over 6 per cent from 2024 to 2027, the stakes are higher than ever. Today, admired brands are defined not just by the scale of their projects but by their adaptability, innovation, and alignment with sustainability and stakeholder trust.Branding in the construction industry has evolved into a strategic differentiator. From adopting digital-first outreach to embedding sustainability narratives, leading companies are reshaping how they are perceived. They are executing landmark projects—the tallest, greenest, and most technologically advanced—while also crafting stories that resonate with customers, investors, and employees alike.To identify such leaders, Construction World follows a rigorous methodology. In 2025, 184 brands across eight categories—contractors, real estate, cement, steel, construction equipment, chemicals, paints and tiles, sanitaryware and glass—were put to vote. Respondents cast a minimum of five votes on the CW website, choosing one company each across five categories, or up to 24 votes by selecting three companies from each of the eight categories. They could also recommend additional names they felt were deserving.Selections were based on perceptions of commitment to customers, corporate governance, ethics, business practices, social responsibility, adaptability, eco-friendly and customer-friendly policies, and transparency. This ensures that the winners are not just popular but truly admired—brands that embody credibility, resilience, and forward thinking.Despite industry headwinds such as cost volatility, sustainability demands, and market uncertainty, these companies have persisted with grit and imagination. Their success stories underscore their ability to challenge convention, innovate consistently, and set new benchmarks.India’s Most Admired Construction Brands 2025 is therefore not just an accolade but a celebration of leadership and values in action. These brands are shaping the industry’s future—earning admiration today, and building legacies for tomorrow.Up next: Read insights from some of these leading brands as they share their perspectives on what branding truly means in the construction industry today.What makes the best brands the best? Dig deep and you will find the road to brand success is paved with the right vision and purpose.“What is good for India must be good for Tata Steel, and not the other way around.” This, says Sarvesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Communications, Tata Steel, is the simple guiding philosophy that is well understood by Tata Steel’s core stakeholders as well as citizens at large. “Alongside sharpening a focus on operational excellence, we have placed equal emphasis on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and inclusive growth,” he adds. “Jindal Steel’s larger vision is one of building resilient nations with world-class infrastructure and empowering communities with sustainable growth opportunities,” says Arpana Kumar Ahuja, Group Head, Brand & Communications, Jindal Steel. This vision is anchored in the company’s unique ‘mine to metal journey’, wherein every link in the chain is seamlessly integrated, from securing raw materials through captive iron ore and coal mines to producing power and manufacturing steel and downstream products, all of which also drive cost-efficiency and quality assurance. Innovation-driven brandsProfit cannot be the objective of business any more than eating is the objective of living, according to management guru Peter Drucker. Much on those lines, leading brands don’t just focus on business growth. Drucker identified the creation of a customer, and innovation, as the purpose of a business, and this is what the best brands believe as well.Tata Steel has continually adapted, innovated and transformed to remain relevant across its 118-year journey. Despite beginning as a B2B brand, it has evolved into a strong consumer-facing brand. “Our portfolio today includes household names such as Tata Tiscon (rebars), Tata Shaktee (roofing sheets), Tata Structura (tubes), Tata Wiron (wire products), Tata Pravesh (doors and windows) and Tata Agrico (agricultural tools),” says Kumar. “And beyond retail, our steel supports diverse applications across the construction, automotive, shipbuilding, infrastructure and defence sectors.” At Godrej Properties, the standout purpose is “creating long-term value through innovation, capability building and sustainability”, in which it excels. A long-term commitment to net zero reflects the brand’s leadership in sustainability, which is ensured by integrating Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) standards across projects. Near-term emission reduction targets are validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).Jindal Steel has displayed pioneering qualities in having built India’s first coal-gasification-based DRI plant and operating the nation’s largest blast furnace at Angul. Its array of differentiated products for national development spans 121-m rails that power India’s high-speed connectivity; head-hardened rails for safer, more durable metro networks; beams, columns, coils and plates that form the backbone of modern infrastructure; and Jindal Panther TMT rebars, built for strength and seismic safety, enabling safer cities and resilient communities.“By aligning innovation with national priorities such as Make in India, infrastructure growth and green transition, Jindal Steel is seen as a natural partner in India’s development journey,” opines Ahuja. “Our Odisha expansion, developed in close collaboration with state authorities, is a case in point.”Having successfully executed the Chenab Bridge, the Atal Tunnel, India’s first underwater metro tunnel, the undersea rail tunnel for the bullet train (ongoing) and 10 metros (some ongoing), including the Delhi Metro since its inception, among large corporations, government, railway authorities and port owners, the Afcons brand has become synonymous with incredible engineering feats. “We’ve cultivated an image for being problem solvers and having the bandwidth to implement critical projects on time, without compromising on the quality,” says S Paramasivan, Managing Director, Afcons.Focus on valuesClear values and a commitment to adhere to those values over the long term underlie strong brands.Consider the DLF brand. It has been built over nearly eight decades by following the core values of strong corporate governance, transparency, compliance, safety, sustainability, quality and customer satisfaction. “These principles,” according to Vineet Kanwar, Group Executive Director, DLF Ltd, “have strengthened our reputation as a trusted leader in the real-estate industry. We remain at the forefront of creating sustainable, modern infrastructure by adhering to the highest standards in construction, environmental practices, compliance and corporate governance, while also integrating advanced structural and fire safety technology.” “Quality, trust and a customer-first approach are the core pillars of Godrej Properties’ reputation,” says Gaurav Pandey, Managing Director & CEO, Godrej Properties. “Tata Steel stands for good governance, transparency and a long-term approach,” adds Kumar. “Jamshedpur is a living example of Tata Steel’s commitment to community welfare, sustainability and holistic development.”Brands make provisions to walk the talk – essentially, to apply the values they stand for. At Godrej Properties, “quality, a key differentiator, is ensured through an integrated quality management framework,” explains Pandey.Vision begets profitabilityFocus on the top line and the bottom line will follow. This business principle, attributed to Steve Jobs, is the hallmark of the leadership of every successful brand. Creating value for customers by default translates into sales and profitability. Consistently creating value for customers translates into a track record of sustainable growth. This track record makes it easier for the business to attract finance, technology partners, repeat customers, and so on. Essentially, a strong brand creates value both for the business and the industry at large in many ways. “A reputation for consistently demonstrating financial stability, governance, ethical conduct and disciplined execution reassures stakeholders, such as financiers, government authorities, landowners and potential JV partners, that we deliver on our commitments,” says Pandey. “And this credibility enables us to engage openly and transparently and build enduring and meaningful relationships.” Godrej Properties’ growth rests on portfolio diversification, adaptability and disciplined execution, evident from the success of a Rs 6,000 crore Qualified Institutional Placement, the largest in Indian real-estate history.Robust profitability and a track record of value creation, such as Jindal Steel has displayed, inspires confidence among stakeholders. “Consistent performance enhances Jindal Steel’s creditworthiness, making it a reliable partner for growth capital and long-term investments,” says Ahuja.Since inception, DLF has delivered approximately 349 million sq ft across 178 projects in the country. According to Kanwar, “this demonstrated track record of timely delivery and quality construction has earned DLF a credible reputation over the decades.” This track record, in turn, helps DLF engage with all relevant stakeholders.With ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2047, Jindal Steel’s sustainability credentials, coupled with resource security and world-class technology, attract global partners looking to participate in India’s growth story. “We offer not just steelmaking strength but a platform to cocreate infrastructure that empowers societies and economies,” emphasises Ahuja. “Recognition as one of the fastest-growing firms reaffirms our reputation as a brand built on sustainable growth and accountability.”“Investors develop confidence in brands that meet their commitments and communicate transparently, on the lines of our brand communication post IPO,” shares Paramasivan. “Additionally, a strong brand attracts talent as well as repeat clients. About 70 per cent of our clients are repeat clients, governments and multilateral funding agencies who see us as a natural partner of choice.”“Our consistent performance has earned the confidence of domestic and global investors alike, while our century-long contribution to nation-building has built deep trust with governments, communities and other stakeholders,” believes Kumar. Tata Steel derives immense strength from the Tata Group’s reputation for integrity, governance and financial prudence.Brand recallConsider a brand as having arrived when it enjoys a very high unaided recall, says Paramasivan. Still, brands run campaigns to reach out to new markets and strengthen recall.  “At Godrej Properties, brand recall is built on the values that homebuyers associate with the brand,” says Pandey. “We strengthen this recall through a story-led approach, with campaigns like #WhereTrustResides that go beyond project promotion and build emotional resonance.”Some campaigns are designed to underscore the values or the purpose that a brand symbolises. Jindal Steel’s Steel of India campaign, acclaimed globally, including at Cannes Lions, reframed steel as not just a commodity but a symbol of national resolve and progress. Platforms such as TechCatalyst 2025, which explored AI, IoT, blockchain and digital twins, position Jindal Steel as a forward-looking, tech-driven brand that signals innovation not only in products but in ideas and partnerships as well.Brand recall for Tata Steel has always been anchored in authentic storytelling through films, campaigns and digital narratives that showcase its heritage, values and contributions to society. Iconic campaigns such as We Also Make Tomorrow in 2018 reinforced steel’s role as a material of the future and the brand’s position as a nation builder. In the late 1980s, We Also Make Steel highlighted social and workplace practices, an important campaign considering the emphasis the brand places on people.“Our brand is reinforced by progressive workplace policies, strong labour relations and leadership in technology, including automation and AI, and a pioneering role in decarbonising the steel sector,” says Kumar.Digital connectThe digital world plays a key role in helping brands to engage with existing and potential stakeholders. Digital platforms have expanded Tata Steel’s customer connect. Compass (B2B) serves institutional buyers with integrated order and service support; DigECA (B2SME) links 2,700+ MSMEs with streamlined inquiries, flexible payments and order tracking; and Aashiyana (B2C) is a fast-growing home-building platform reaching customers across towns and cities.Afcons is present in 30 countries where online initiatives and outreach help connect with corporations and authorities in the areas of mining, ports, bridges and potable water.At Godrej Properties, “digital tools enable data-driven media strategies and personalised engagement across platforms such as YouTube and Instagram,” says Pandey.DLF engages with all stakeholders through a variety of communication mediums including digital tools, which results in high brand recall. “Our national footprint and our growing customer base speak for itself,” says Kanwar.Outside the digital world, Godrej Properties focuses on customer-first experiences, whether through thoughtfully designed sales offices, walkthroughs or initiatives like ‘Fourth Dimension’ that address everyday customer concerns with tangible solutions.Indeed, the best leave no stone unturned.