Indian Railways’ decade‑long transformation converged with strategies for its next leap at the Infrastructure Today Railway Conclave in New Delhi.
Indian Railways is entering a defining chapter of transition, marked by unprecedented investment, technological innovation, and a renewed emphasis on self‑reliance. With capital outlay at an all‑time high, the national transporter is accelerating construction across corridors, stations and terminals to deliver faster, safer and greener connectivity.
To mark over a decade of this transformation journey of the world’s fourth‑largest rail network by route kilometres, the Infrastructure Today Railways Conclave was held at The Lalit, New Delhi, on August 25. The first of five panel discussions focused on funding India’s rail expansion programme, moderated by Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director and Global Head, Consulting, Crisil Intelligence. The session deliberated on sustaining Rs.3 trillion annual rail capex, station monetisation, transit‑oriented development, suburban rail scaling, and the role of capital and funding models.
The opening session was followed by the lighting of the traditional lamp and a welcome address by Pratap Padode, Founder & President, FIRST Construction Council and Managing Director, ASAPP Info Global Group, publisher of Infrastructure Today. Outlining developments in India’s railway sector, Padode spoke about what more may be required to put it on the fast track. In his keynote, Alok Tiwari, Additional Member Bridge, Railway Board, shared the roadmap from freight carriage to passenger safety in a bid to make Indian Railways a transporter for Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
At the heart of this transformation lies freight expansion. In FY2025‑26, Indian Railways achieved a historic 1,670 million tonnes of freight loading, reinforcing its role as the backbone of India’s supply chains for coal, cement, fertilisers and food grains. Gati Shakti cargo terminals and Amrit Bharat logistics hubs are easing congestion and lowering costs, bolstering India’s trade competitiveness.
The next panel, ‘Can Rail Win Back India’s Freight Economy’, debated whether Indian Railways could reclaim freight traffic lost to road. Moderated by Anurag Gupta, Partner, Transportation & Logistics, Deloitte India, the discussion examined rail’s competitive advantages, the impact of Dedicated Freight Corridors, multimodal logistics parks, port connectivity, private container operators, and strategies to reduce logistics costs.
Accelerating rail build
Large‑scale projects, from high‑speed corridors to modern station redevelopment, are reshaping the urban fabric. Over 1,340 stations are being reimagined as vibrant city centres, with 261 completed, while advanced track renewals and digital signalling systems enhance resilience. India’s high‑speed rail vision is advancing with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, designed for 320 km/h operations. This flagship project signals a decisive transition toward world‑class passenger mobility, reshaping construction standards and embedding self‑reliance in rail technology.
The panel ‘Building the Railways of Viksit Bharat’, moderated by Karun Raj Singh Sareen, Partner, Major Projects Advisory, KPMG, examined engineering challenges in bridges and tunnels, high‑speed rail, electrification, EPC contracting, project execution and technology adoption.
Technology is driving safety and efficiency. The indigenous Kavach automatic train protection (ATP) system, already deployed across 3,100 route km with rollout planned for another 21,900 km, is a landmark in accident prevention. The expansion of Vande Bharat trains, including sleeper variants, is redefining passenger experience with speed, comfort and modern amenities.
Saurabh Bandopadhyay, Principal Executive Director, Signalling & Telecom Development, Railway Board, delivered a special address to set the tone for ‘Smart Rails: Digital Transformation, Safety & Sustainability’. Moderated by Vivek Ogra, Partner, Transport Consulting, EY, the panel discussed AI, IoT, predictive maintenance, Kavach, signalling & telecommunication systems, cybersecurity, energy efficiency, electrification and alternative propulsion technologies.
Self‑reliant railways
Equally significant is the push for self‑reliance in manufacturing. The production of 1,681 locomotives and 7,134 Linke‑Hofmann‑Busch (LHB) coaches in FY2025‑26 reinforces the success of the Make in India initiative in the railway sector. By localising rolling stock, signalling and electrification technologies, Indian Railways is reducing import dependence, creating jobs and building long‑term industrial capability.
The final session, ‘Atmanirbhar Railways: Manufacturing & Global Opportunity’, moderated by Harsh Dhingra, Management Consultant and Former Chief Country Representative, Bombardier Transportation India, reviewed rolling stock and components, higher axle loads, specialised freight wagons, standardisation, testing and certification, strengthening domestic supply chains and export opportunities.
Across the day‑long deliberations, policymakers and industry stakeholders were unanimous that sustainability remains integral to this transformation. With rail transport emitting nearly 95 per cent less pollution than road, Indian Railways could become the green backbone of India’s low‑carbon mobility strategy.
The Infrastructure Today Railways Conclave was supported by Fuji Silvertech Concrete Pvt. Ltd as Precast Partner; Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) as Associate Partner; and IMPACCT as Business Intelligence Partner. It was organised by the think‑tank FIRST Construction Council and supported by the Ministry of Railways, in association with Infrastructure Today and Construction World.
– Manish Pant