New Delhi | September 26, 2025 — RailTel Corporation of India Ltd has bagged a Letter of Award (LoA) worth ₹970.07 crore from the Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) to establish science laboratories across government schools in the state. The project falls under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan 2025-26, the central government’s flagship programme for holistic education.
Scope of the Project
According to the LoA issued today, RailTel will set up fully functional Physics, Chemistry, and Biology laboratories in government-run secondary and senior-secondary schools across Bihar. The initiative aims to improve hands-on learning opportunities for students and bridge the infrastructure gap in science education.
The project will involve not just supply and installation of lab equipment, but also design, setup, and integration of facilities to ensure long-term usability. Analysts expect RailTel to roll out the project in a phased manner across districts.
Execution Timeline and Focus
Execution cadence will be a critical factor, given the size and scope of the contract. Industry observers highlight that such large-scale education infra projects often require careful alignment of working capital, vendor supply chains, and training modules for school staff.
RailTel’s ability to balance execution speed with quality will be closely tracked by both policymakers and investors. The project is expected to stretch across multiple academic sessions, with milestones tied to state-level implementation schedules.
Strategic Significance
For RailTel, which traditionally operates in the telecom and ICT services space, the contract represents an important diversification into education infrastructure and digital inclusion projects. The company has been steadily leveraging its ICT expertise to win contracts in government and institutional segments, including smart classrooms, e-office platforms, and surveillance systems.
The Bihar labs project aligns with RailTel’s broader strategy of expanding into nation-building initiatives that combine digital connectivity with physical infrastructure.
Market & Investor View
The award is being seen as a positive development for RailTel’s order book, which has been expanding steadily with government-driven projects. At nearly ₹1,000 crore, the contract size is significant compared to the company’s annual revenue run rate.
Investors will be keen to understand how RailTel manages the working capital cycle, as upfront procurement of lab equipment and logistics could exert pressure on near-term margins. However, timely payments from state authorities and central allocations under Samagra Shiksha are expected to provide comfort.
| Project Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Client | Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) |
| Project Value | ₹970.07 crore |
| Scope | Establish Physics, Chemistry & Biology labs in govt schools |
| Programme | Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan 2025-26 |
| Beneficiaries | Secondary & senior-secondary school students in Bihar |
Broader Context
Education infrastructure has been a priority focus under Samagra Shiksha, with states directed to ensure adequate lab facilities for science learning. Bihar, in particular, has faced challenges in expanding practical science education due to resource constraints.
This project, once completed, is expected to impact thousands of schools, equipping students with modern lab access and improving their preparedness for higher studies in science and technology fields.
RailTel’s win of the ₹970.07 crore Bihar school labs project marks a significant addition to its portfolio and underscores its role in education-led infrastructure development. For investors, the focus will remain on how efficiently the company manages execution timelines and working capital discipline over the project’s life cycle.
