NCC Limited Founder and Chairman Emeritus AVS Raju Dies at 90

Dr. A.V.S. Raju, the visionary founder and Chairman Emeritus of infrastructure major NCC Limited, passed away on Tuesday evening. The company confirmed the news of his passing in an official statement, noting that he died at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. He was 90 years old at the time of his death.Known as a stalwart in the Indian infrastructure sector, Dr. Raju was a recipient of the Padma Shri award, one of the country's highest civilian honors. His contribution to the growth of India's urban and industrial landscape through the projects executed by his company earned him significant recognition within the corporate world. Beyond his professional achievements in engineering and construction, he was also celebrated for his intellectual pursuits, having achieved a unique milestone by penning the largest biography in the Telugu language, a feat that earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.Born in 1936, Dr. Raju established the Nagarjuna Construction Company, now known as NCC Limited, in 1978. Under his leadership, the organization grew from its inception into one of the nation's largest and most reliable infrastructure conglomerates. Over the decades, the company successfully delivered a wide array of critical projects across diverse sectors, including transport, water management, energy, and urban infrastructure development, playing a vital role in India's industrial advancement.The passing of the veteran industrialist has been marked by expressions of mourning from those who worked closely with him. The company described him as a beloved founder and leader, underscoring the deep impact he had on the workforce and the corporate culture of the organization he built from the ground up nearly five decades ago.In the wake of his demise, the company has arranged for members of the public and industry peers to pay their final respects. The funeral proceedings and tributes are scheduled to take place at his residence located at Plot 168/A, Road 10, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. Formal arrangements for paying respects commenced at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.The legacy left by Dr. Raju is defined by his commitment to nation-building through the construction of robust infrastructure. As the founder of a company that remains a key player in the Indian economy, his influence on the industry's practices and project management standards remains profound. His journey from starting a construction firm in the late 1970s to leading a major conglomerate serves as a significant chapter in the history of Indian entrepreneurship.As the business community acknowledges his passing, the focus remains on the foundational values he instilled within NCC Limited. While the company continues its operations, the loss of its founder marks the end of a long and prolific era for the construction major. The industry now reflects on the life of a man who balanced professional engineering expertise with a rare passion for literature and documentation, securing his place in both the national infrastructure narrative and the record books.