Shillong, Apr 22: The Badri Rai Company (BRC) has strongly denounced what it termed as frequent mudslinging by various political parties, asserting that the criticism is based on a lack of understanding of the firm’s work and contributions in Meghalaya.
Responding to the repeated attacks, officials of the company said that BRC is a North East-based firm from Dibrugarh competing alongside national-level companies across the region and beyond.
The company is often alleged to be particularly close to the National People’s Party (NPP), which holds power in Meghalaya. As such it is frequently blamed for substandard work on various projects and accused of using its connections to the NPP to secure work.
They noted that the presence of a North Eastern company operating at such a scale often comes as a surprise to established national players. “We take pride in generating maximum local employment and, more importantly, in providing opportunities for talented individuals from the region, many of whom have historically not been given leadership roles by larger firms, to grow and demonstrate their capabilities,” sources from the company said.
The officials expressed concern that certain political narratives have referenced the company without a clear understanding of its background or contributions. They emphasized that companies from the North East are fully capable of executing large-scale projects efficiently and competitively using local talent.
According to BRC, the firm has secured four major projects in Meghalaya over the past three years, competing transparently with national players in the bidding process. “In several cases, we have quoted lower rates by as much as Rs 170 crore while maintaining quality and efficiency,” the officials stated.
Citing the Meghalaya Secretariat project as an example, they said the company emerged as the L1 bidder after quoting nearly 15 percent lower than firms from Kolkata and Hyderabad.
The company further maintained that its projects are progressing on schedule, reflecting its commitment to timely delivery. However, it pointed out that a majority of infrastructure projects in the state continue to be awarded to national firms, despite what it described as inconsistent execution records in some cases.
“Our market share is relatively small in Meghalaya’s construction industry. Majority of projects are executed by national level companies,” officials said.
Providing background, the officials stated that BRC, founded in Dibrugarh in 1970, is currently operating in nine states. In Meghalaya, the company has one project each under the Urban Affairs, Tourism, IT, and Education departments.
They clarified that the firm does not undertake projects under PHE and PWD and primarily competes for contracts exceeding Rs. 100 crore. “We consciously avoid smaller projects to allow local contractors to participate in the bidding process,” the officials added.
Reiterating its commitment to the region, the company stressed the importance of unity and collective support for regional enterprises. “The North East still has significant ground to cover in infrastructure and growth. Empowering local companies is essential to achieving that progress,” BRC said.
The officials also informed that the company extensively employs local youth, including over 50 Khasi individuals in roles ranging from project managers to office staff, as part of its effort to build local capacity and leadership.
