CILT India highlights Railways’ role in driving economic growth at FICCI’s Future Rail India 2026 Conference
NEW DELHI : The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport India (CILT India) actively participated in the Future Rail India 2026 Conference, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi. The conference, themed “Railways Reimagined for Viksit Bharat: Innovate, Integrate, Invest,” brought together senior government officials, railway professionals, industry leaders and logistics experts to deliberate on the future of India’s railway sector and its role in supporting the nation’s economic transformation.
As part of the conference, a business session titled “Railways as a Growth Engine: Operations, Market Interface & Connectivity” was held to discuss strategies for strengthening India’s rail transportation ecosystem through operational excellence, multimodal connectivity, digital innovation and enhanced industry collaboration.
The session was moderated by Shri Anshuman S. Chauhan, Director & Practice Leader, Crisil, who guided discussions on the evolving dynamics of rail logistics, freight operations and market-driven reforms.
Representing CILT India, Shri Sanjiv Garg, IRTS, CMILT, Former Additional Member, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India, and Secretary General, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport India (CILT India), participated as one of the distinguished panellists. Drawing upon his extensive experience in railway operations and logistics, Shri Garg shared valuable insights on strengthening rail connectivity, improving operational efficiency and fostering greater integration across India’s logistics network to support the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The panel also featured several eminent railway and logistics professionals, including:
Dr. Alok Badkul, IRTS, CMILT, Executive Director, Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR).
Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, IRTS, CMILT, Executive Director (Traffic Commercial), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Shri Nitin Kulshrestha, IRSME, CMILT, Chief Operating Officer, GATX India Pvt. Ltd.
Shri Kumar Pulkeshin, Senior Vice President & Head (Rail and Inland Terminals), J M Baxi Group.
The discussion highlighted the critical role of Indian Railways in reducing logistics costs, improving freight efficiency, strengthening multimodal connectivity and supporting sustainable economic growth. The panellists emphasised the importance of infrastructure development, Dedicated Freight Corridors, digital transformation, customer-centric freight services and greater collaboration between government and industry to position railways as a key driver of India’s logistics and manufacturing ambitions.
CILT India reaffirmed its commitment to supporting knowledge sharing, professional excellence and industry collaboration by participating in platforms such as Future Rail India 2026. Through its continued engagement with policymakers, industry leaders and logistics professionals, the Institute aims to contribute to the development of an efficient, integrated and globally competitive transport and logistics ecosystem aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
