In a significant move to modernize and strengthen India’s logistics infrastructure, the Centre for Transportation Research and Management (CTRAM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Railways, has partnered with Aviral Consulting Pvt. Ltd., a renowned logistics and supply chain advisory firm. The collaboration marks a crucial milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to create a smarter, integrated, and sustainable logistics ecosystem that aligns with the country’s economic aspirations.
A Visionary Step Towards Logistics Excellence
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CTRAM and Aviral Consulting reflects the shared vision of both institutions to address the challenges facing India’s freight and logistics sector. The agreement was officially signed by Shri Amit Kumar Singh, Executive Director of CTRAM, and Dr. Vikash Khatri, Founder of Aviral Consulting. The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, who serves as the Executive Director Traffic Commercial and Executive Director – Gati Shakti (Traffic) at the Ministry of Railways.
This alliance signifies more than just a formal partnership; it showcases a powerful convergence of public policy strength and private sector innovation. By combining institutional knowledge with industry experience, CTRAM and Aviral aim to create actionable and scalable logistics solutions.
Driving Policy and Implementation Synergy
At the heart of this collaboration lies a clear objective—to merge CTRAM’s policy and research expertise with Aviral Consulting’s on-ground implementation capabilities. This unique public-private synergy will focus on developing knowledge-driven, result-oriented strategies that are both transformative and executable.
The partnership will address multiple priority areas, including increasing the modal share of rail freight, integrating multimodal transport systems, and promoting sustainability in logistics. Both organizations intend to co-create smart logistics frameworks and strengthen skill development across the logistics value chain.
Focus Areas That Promise High Impact
The alliance places a strong emphasis on multimodal transport integration, recognizing the need for seamless movement across road, rail, air, and waterways. Through this, the initiative hopes to enhance the efficiency of freight corridors and reduce transportation costs for businesses across sectors.
Another key focus is increasing the share of rail freight, which plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions and lowering logistics costs. The collaboration also aims to promote green logistics practices, enabling India to align better with global environmental goals while improving overall supply chain performance.
Additionally, the two partners will work on developing smart logistics frameworks that rely on data-driven decision-making, digital transformation, and automation. These frameworks will help stakeholders better respond to dynamic supply and demand patterns.
Expert Voices Emphasize the Collaboration’s Significance
Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Amit Kumar Singh emphasized that collaborative logistics research can yield transformative and application-focused outcomes. He pointed out that these solutions will not only boost operational efficiency but also contribute significantly to multimodal integration and the creation of a future-ready freight ecosystem for India.
Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, echoing this optimism, highlighted that the partnership will help Indian Railways gain deeper insights into changing demand patterns, cargo flow dynamics, and evolving customer expectations. He noted that such insights will enable the Railways to craft innovative strategies for freight and parcel services.
Dr. Vikash Khatri, representing Aviral Consulting, underlined the strategic importance of logistics to India’s economic progress. He stressed that this collaboration would enable the development of an integrated and efficient logistics infrastructure through robust policy frameworks, ongoing innovation, and operational excellence.
Bridging the Gap Between Vision and Execution
This strategic tie-up stands out for its ability to bridge gaps between research, planning, and on-ground implementation. By doing so, it supports India’s broader ambition of becoming a global leader in logistics efficiency and resilience.
As India aims to create a more agile and future-focused logistics sector, the CTRAM–Aviral Consulting partnership emerges as a vital catalyst for this transformation. It brings together the necessary institutional and industry expertise to make India’s logistics infrastructure smarter, greener, and more competitive in the global marketplace.
