NEW DELHI – India's ambitious infrastructure development, spanning railways, roads, power transmission, and real estate, necessitates a significant embrace of technology, digitalization, and sustainable solutions, experts affirmed at the Business Today Infrastructure Summit 2026 on July 31.
Technology Integration for Efficiency
Amit Gossain, MD of Kone Elevator – India and South Asia, underscored the importance of business information modelling (BIM), even for smaller businesses and manufacturing units. He stated, "We need to really get a lot of technology and digitalization in." Gossain cited examples from his own industry, where IoT and AI enable predictive maintenance for elevators, suggesting similar applications for critical infrastructure like roads and bridges to preempt issues before they occur.
The panellists generally agreed that while technology can accelerate execution, it must not compromise the integrity and longevity of the build. This integration is crucial for ensuring both speed and quality in large-scale projects.
Prioritizing Sustainable Solutions
Rajeev Garg, Chief Sales Officer of Jindal Stainless, advocated for sustainable solutions in infrastructure development. He referenced the collapse of a Mumbai footbridge, where corrosion was identified as a primary cause. This incident led to collaboration between the stainless steel association and Indian Railways to develop more durable, long-lasting materials. "This is a case study how industry, academia and research can work in unison and come out with new innovative and sustainable solutions to fuel the infra growth that we are aspiring for," Garg noted, highlighting the successful deployment of these new stainless steel materials in bridges across Mumbai and other regions.
Global Market & Supply Chain Impact
The scale of India’s ongoing infrastructure projects positions the country as a vital market for global companies developing strategic plans. Bharat Kaushal, Corporate Officer at Hitachi Limited and Executive Officer at Hitachi India, emphasized the significant business opportunities within India, stating that the original idea of exporting from India has shifted due to robust domestic demand.
Furthermore, this infrastructure boom is enhancing supply chain efficiency. Ankur Periwal, MD of KPT Pipes, shared that raw material transit times from Mumbai and Mundra ports to Dehradun have decreased by approximately 20 percent. Similarly, shipping materials to Chennai, which once took around 10 days, now takes 5-6 days. Despite these improvements, Periwal suggested that matching China's export scaling capabilities would require another 15-20 years for India.