Martin Burn Limited is a Kolkata based construction and real-estate listed company.[1]
The history of Martin Burn Limited, generally referred to as Martin & Brun Co. goes back to 1890, when Sir Rajen Mookerjee in partnership with Sir Thomas Acquinas Martin started the firm named Martin Co..[2]
Martin & Co, has to its credit of building waterworks at Palta, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Benares. But its major contribution are architectural marvels like Esplanade Mansion, Standard Chartered Building, South Eastern Railway Headquarters in Garden Reach, Tipu Sultan Mosque. Towards the high point of its career in 1904 the firm was awarded the contract of building the Victoria Memorial, which was completed in 1921.[2][3] Many of this buildings have been declared Heritage monuments.
Another construction firm, Burn & Co which had the experience of building many an important structures in Calcutta like St. Andrew’s Church (1818), the 152 high Ochterlony Monument (1828) was taken over by Rajen Mukherjee in 1927 and the two together went on dotting the city with buildings like St. Xaviers’ College, Oriental Seminary, Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, Assembly House, Grand Hotel Arcade, United Bank Buildings, New Secretariat Building, Club House at Eden Gardens – the list is endless.[2][4] The city of Kolkata - is sometimes also referred to as Martin Burn City for this reason.[4]
The two companies were merged to form present day Martin Burn Limited in 1946.[1][2]
Sir Rajen Mookherjee along with Martin & Co. promoted Indian Iron & Steel Co. in year 1911.[5] Later in 1936,the two companies -namely, Bengal Iron Company and IISCO with Martin & Co and Burn & Co as the respective agents got merged to forge a strong unit.[5]
Martin Burn Limited is now operated by Fathehpurias[1] and the Mookherjees no longer hold any stake. It still operates from its original head office at 1, R. N. Mukherjee Road, Martin Burn House, Kolkata in B.B.D. Bagh area. The old Martin Burn House, which was in the Victorian style, has been replaced with a more modern multi-storey building housing many corporate offices.
The company engages in civil engineering and construction activities and turnkey projects.
It is a listed entity and its stocks are traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange.[6]