The Ministry of Railways’ CTRAM and Aviral Consulting sign MoU to boost Indian logistics through research and practical solutions.
A significant collaboration poised to drive innovation and practical solutions within India’s logistics sector was announced. The Centre for Transportation Research and Management (CTRAM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Railways, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aviral Consulting (Aviral), a leading advisory firm in the logistics and supply chain domain.
This strategic partnership aims to co-create knowledge and deliver application-based, outcome-orientated solutions for the rapidly evolving Indian logistics industry. The MoU was officially signed by Amit Kumar Singh, Executive Director, CTRAM, and Dr. Vikash Khatri, Founder of Aviral Consulting. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Executive Director Traffic Commercial and Executive Director – Gati Shakti (Traffic), Ministry of Railways.
This alliance strategically combines CTRAM’s extensive institutional knowledge and policy insights with Aviral Consulting’s deep industry expertise and implementation capabilities. The goal is to develop impactful, scalable solutions precisely tailored to meet the evolving needs of India’s logistics ecosystem, bridging the gap between policy, planning, and on-ground implementation.
Key areas of focus
The collaboration will concentrate on several critical areas crucial for the advancement of Indian logistics:
- Multimodal transport integration: Enhancing seamless connectivity across different modes of transportation.
- Increasing rail freight share: Strategies to boost the railway’s contribution to cargo movement.
- Advancing sustainability practices: Promoting eco-friendly and sustainable logistics operations.
- Developing smart logistics frameworks: Implementing intelligent systems and technologies.
- Promoting opportunities in skill development: Fostering a skilled workforce for the sector.
Amit Kumar Singh, CTRAM, emphasised that “Collaborative logistics research led by the CTRAM can unlock transformative application-orientated solutions—enhancing efficiency, enabling multimodal integration, and shaping a resilient, future-ready freight ecosystem for the nation.”
Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, ED, Ministry of Railways, added, “Collaboration between CTRAM and Aviral will add insights around demand flow, the changing paradigm of cargo business, pricing and customer needs, which in turn will help Railways in newer strategies in the freight and parcel segment.”
Dr. Vikash Khatri, Founder, Aviral Consulting, highlighted that “Logistics is a vital backbone of the nation’s economy, demanding a robust policy framework, continuous innovation, and operational excellence. This collaboration… aims to foster a smarter, more integrated, and efficient freight and parcel logistics ecosystem across India.”
This partnership is expected to contribute significantly to a more resilient, technology-enabled, and sustainable logistics landscape across India.
Source: PR
