The day-long summit featured six panel discussions and three thought-provoking presentations, each underlining the pivotal role of innovation and sustainability in building future-ready infrastructure.
The 10th edition of the ET NOW Infra Focus Summit & Awards is made possible through the support of its valued partners. Tata Projects, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Welspun Enterprises and SIMTA Astrix join as Platinum Partners, bringing unparalleled expertise in engineering and execution. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited stands tall as the Gold Partner, while Bharat Vanijya Eastern Pvt LTD, and India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited lends its strength as the Silver Partner. The event also draws on the commitment of Encraft India Pvt Limited, JSW Infrastructure Limited and LivSYT as Supporting Partners. The Construction Machinery Partner for the event is HD Hyundai Construction Equipment India Private Limited. Together, these organisations embody the spirit of collaboration, innovation and progress that drives India's infrastructure journey forward.
The summit opened with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by opening remarks from our Guest of Honor, Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director General, Border Roads Organisation. He shared a vision for connecting India's border villages beyond transport to ensure access to healthcare, schools, and markets. He also noted the challenges of high-altitude construction and stressed industry–government collaboration for security and development.
Setting the tone for the day was an interesting remark by Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, JNPA who highlighted that the growth of the developed countries has been port-led, and India is now following the same path.
Our first panel discussion explored the need to shift focus beyond traditional measures of project success. The speakers emphasized the importance of holistic outcomes over mere project completion. Whereas the second panel conversed the transformative potential of technology, materials innovation, and financing models to accelerate execution of highway projects.
Ports as Engines of Economic Connectivity
The third panel examined how strengthening port-hinterland connectivity can transform India's coastline into a driver of economic competitiveness. The dialogue between Subrat Tripathy, CEO of Adani Ports and Anshumali Dwivedi, Wholetime Director, CFO and Head of Strategy, ESSAR Port among others emphasized that robust multimodal linkages, are essential to reduce logistics costs. The session's key takeaway was that ports should no longer be seen as standalone assets but as part of a larger economic ecosystem that seamlessly connects global trade routes with inland production and consumption hubs.
Airports as Integrated Economic Clusters
Airports took centre stage in the fourth discussion, which explored their growing beyond facilitating passenger traffic. The key insight was that airports must evolve into integrated economic clusters, attracting investment and stimulating surrounding ecosystems. Participants like. Amber Dubey, Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company, Snehashish Dutta, CEO - Director, Reliance Airports, Nadiminti Venkata Subbarayudu, Advisor (PPP), Airports Authority of India and others stressed that policy reforms, private participation will be critical for long-term growth trajectory of Indian airports.
Modernising Rail & Metro for Smart Urban Mobility
The fifth session focused on the modernization of India's rail and metro infrastructure. Discussions among the speakers highlighted the challenges of upgrading legacy systems while simultaneously building future-ready smart corridors. The consensus was that rail and metro networks must serve as both mobility solutions and environmental interventions in rapidly urbanizing cities.
Digital Tech Driving Future-Ready Infrastructure
The last panel explored the critical role of advanced technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and digital twins in reimagining infrastructure planning. The discussion revealed how these tools can significantly improve project accuracy, optimize costs, and enable real-time monitoring. As India moves toward its 2047 vision, digital-first infrastructure planning will be indispensable.
A Unified Vision for India's Infrastructure
The ET Now Infra Focus Summit 2025 concluded with a unified recognition that infrastructure is central to India's aspiration of becoming a global economic leader. Across all discussions, a consistent theme emerged: the need for innovation-driven, sustainable, and outcome-oriented development.
The event highlighted that the next phase of India's infrastructure journey must integrate technology, financing, and policy to build assets and create value for people and the planet.
