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The Construction Federation of India (CFI) recently hosted its Flagship Conference 2025 in New Delhi under the theme "Redefining India's Infrastructure Growth: Next-Gen Solutions for a Viksit Bharat." The event brought together policymakers, infrastructure experts, global institutions, and business leaders to explore solutions to sectoral challenges such as delivery predictability, sustainability, financing, and safety. Three high-powered panels tackled topics ranging from energy transition and infrastructure planning to Industry 4.0 and semiconductor manufacturing. The event concluded with the announcement of a white paper that will further push for policy reforms to align infrastructure growth with national aspirations.
India's infrastructure ambitions took centre stage in the capital as the Construction Federation of India (CFI) the country's apex body for civil construction firms held its Flagship Conference 2025 at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. With a future-focused theme, "Redefining India's Infrastructure Growth: Next-Gen Solutions for a Viksit Bharat," the event marked a strategic collaboration between industry stalwarts and policy leaders aiming to shape a resilient and globally competitive infrastructure ecosystem. Advertisement
In his opening address, Vinayak Pai, President of CFI, highlighted that the construction sector plays a crucial role in India's development story. He urged stakeholders to collaborate more deeply to overcome existing roadblocks such as funding gaps, safety concerns, and technology lags. He asserted that the conference would set the foundation for a resilient infrastructure framework, designed to boost employment, economic growth, and quality of life in the lead-up to Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. Surendra Kr Ahirwar, Executive Director from the Ministry of Railways, commended CFI's timely theme. He emphasized the significance of the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, particularly its geospatial tools that enable better planning and integration. He called for infrastructure with longer lifespans and greater sustainability, while reinforcing CFI's role in pushing forward India's infrastructure reforms.
Session I: Scaling up with the 4S Framework
The first panel explored emerging trends through the 4S lens Scale, Safety, Sustainability, and Speed. The session featured industry veterans from DMRC, J Kumar Infraprojects, KPMG India, The World Bank, and was moderated by NICMAR's Director General. They agreed that capacity building, curriculum integration, precast technologies, and safety education need to become core to project execution. Panelists also emphasized resilient supply chains and improved stakeholder coordination for better delivery timelines.
Session II: Energizing India's Clean Energy Future
The second session turned the spotlight on clean energy and self-reliance. Representatives from NHPC Ltd., Jakson Infra, L&T Renewable IC, Shell India, and Deloitte discussed the road ahead. Key takeaways included the urgent need for storage solutions like battery and pumped hydro, and resolving transmission and distribution bottlenecks. The session highlighted that financial de-risking, blended finance, and clearer policy roadmaps are vital to secure long-term investments. Building indigenous capability and public awareness also emerged as central to a successful energy transition.
Session III: Industry 4.0 & India's Tech Leap
Focusing on semiconductors, digital infrastructure, and battery manufacturing, the third panel examined how India can harness AI, ML, and data sovereignty to become a global tech hub. Speakers from Tata Electronics, L&T Construction, Jacobs Engineering, Invest UP, and Labotek Technologies emphasized that state-specific incentives are vital to support the central government's Semiconductor Mission. Panelists advocated for stronger ecosystems of specialty chemicals, local equipment supply, and global benchmarking to boost quality and speed in new industrial facilities.
In her closing remarks, Preiti Patel, Treasurer of CFI, expressed appreciation for the collective insights and collaborative spirit witnessed at the conference. She announced the upcoming release of a CFI White Paper focused on key policy challenges affecting the infrastructure construction sector. Slated for publication around September-October 2025, the paper is expected to fuel ongoing policy advocacy initiatives.
CFI, since its establishment in 2000, has stood as the unifying voice of the civil construction industry in India, with its members driving transformative projects in critical sectors such as transport, energy, urban development, and industrial corridors. The federation continues to partner with central and state governments, international institutions, and regulatory bodies to guide the country's infrastructure policy direction. Through knowledge-sharing platforms like this flagship conference, CFI reinforces its commitment to building an inclusive, efficient, and globally benchmarked infrastructure sector.
Source ANI
5th Jun, 2025
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