RITES Limited (originally Rail India Technical and Economic Service) is an Indian public sector enterprise engaged in transport consultancy and engineering. A schedule 'A' Miniratna company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, RITES provides multi-disciplinary services in fields ranging from railways and highways to airports, ports, ropeways, urban transport and renewable energy.
| Name | RITES Limited |
|---|---|
| Former name | Rail India Technical and Economic Service |
| Type | Public sector undertaking |
| Industry | Engineering and transport consultancy |
| Parent ministry | Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| Headquarters | Gurugram, Haryana, India |
| Status | Miniratna (Category I) Schedule 'A' enterprise |
| Listing | BSE and NSE |
RITES Limited functions as a consultancy, engineering and project management organisation, primarily working in the transport infrastructure sector. Its service portfolio includes feasibility studies, detailed design, construction supervision, quality assurance and inspection, project management, and operations and maintenance support. The company is also among the few Indian organisations authorised to export rolling stock — locomotives, coaches and other railway equipment — to overseas markets.
RITES was established by the Government of India to leverage the technical and managerial expertise of Indian Railways for domestic and international consultancy assignments. Over time, the organisation diversified beyond railways to cover urban transport (including metro rail systems), highways and bridges, airports, inland waterways and ports, and energy-related projects. Its inspection wing carries out third-party inspection of equipment and materials for a wide range of central and state government agencies.
RITES has executed assignments in a large number of countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, working with multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank. Its overseas portfolio includes railway rehabilitation, transport master plans, port and harbour studies, and supply of refurbished and new rolling stock.
RITES has formed several joint ventures and subsidiaries to undertake specialised work, including ventures with Indian Railways entities and state governments for wagon manufacturing and railway infrastructure development. The company has also partnered with foreign organisations on consultancy assignments in third countries.
The Government of India remains the majority shareholder of RITES Limited. The company was listed on Indian stock exchanges following an initial public offering, after which a portion of its equity has been held by institutional and retail investors.
RITES occupies a notable position in India's transport infrastructure ecosystem as one of the principal government-owned consultancy organisations in the sector. Its role spans both planning and execution stages of major projects, and its inspection certifications are widely accepted by domestic procurement agencies. Through its export activities, RITES has been an instrument of Indian engineering diplomacy, particularly in railway-related cooperation with developing countries.