Government Proposes Merger of EPIL, BBJ and Richardson & Cruddas with Bridge & Roof

New Delhi: The Ministry of Heavy Industries has initiated a proposal to merge three public sector enterprises—Engineering Projects (India) Limited, Braithwaite Burn and Jessop Construction Company Limited, and Richardson & Cruddas Limited—with Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited as part of a broader effort to restructure and strengthen the public sector engineering and construction ecosystem.

According to officials familiar with the development, the proposal is currently being processed by the ministry and aims to consolidate the operations of these companies under a single, stronger entity.

Objective of the Proposed Merger

The move is expected to streamline operations, improve financial sustainability, and enhance the execution capabilities of government-owned engineering and construction companies. By combining the resources, infrastructure and technical expertise of multiple PSUs, the government intends to create a more efficient and competitive organization capable of handling large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects.

The consolidation is also seen as a step toward reducing operational overlaps and optimizing administrative costs within the public sector.

Also Read: Government Proposes Merger of IRCON International with RVNL

Companies Involved

The merger proposal includes three engineering and construction firms:

• Engineering Projects (India) Limited – A government enterprise involved in executing turnkey industrial and infrastructure projects both in India and overseas.

• Braithwaite Burn and Jessop Construction Company Limited – A PSU with expertise in construction and engineering services across multiple sectors.

• Richardson & Cruddas Limited – One of India’s oldest engineering companies, known for its contributions to heavy engineering and fabrication projects.

These companies are proposed to be integrated into Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, another central public sector enterprise that specializes in engineering, project management, and industrial construction services.

Strengthening Public Sector Engineering

Industry observers note that several government-owned engineering PSUs have faced financial and operational challenges in recent years. The merger is expected to create synergies by pooling skilled manpower, technical resources and project portfolios under a unified management structure.

A larger consolidated entity could also improve the ability of these companies to compete for major infrastructure and industrial projects, including those linked to national development initiatives.

Strategic Importance

The proposed restructuring aligns with the government’s broader strategy to rationalize and strengthen the public sector. Consolidation of similar entities is often considered a way to improve operational efficiency, reduce duplication of functions, and create financially viable organizations capable of supporting India’s expanding infrastructure needs.

If approved, the merger could mark a significant transformation in the structure of government-owned engineering companies and potentially enhance their role in executing large-scale projects across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

Officials have indicated that the proposal will go through the necessary evaluation and approval processes before any final decision is taken.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based public sources. Readers are advised to verify details independently before making any financial or business decisions.