Rail Chamber Launched to Strengthen India’s Global Railway Leadership

Founders and Board Members of the Chamber of Railway Industries at the launch event in New Delhi on Good Governance Day. (Photo: Rail Chamber)

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): India has taken a decisive step towards strengthening its global railway leadership with the official launch of the Chamber of Railway Industries (Rail Chamber), the country’s first dedicated industry platform for the railway sector. The launch coincides with the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, observed nationwide as Good Governance Day, underscoring the Chamber’s commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen-centric reforms in the rail ecosystem.

Filling a century-old institutional gap

For over a hundred years, advanced railway nations have benefited from strong industry forums such as the Association of American Railroads in the United States, the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Europe, and the Australian Railway Association. These institutions have played a pivotal role in shaping policy, driving research, and enabling global standardisation.

Despite operating the world’s fourth-largest railway network, India has until now lacked a comparable independent, non-governmental industry chamber. The creation of the Rail Chamber closes this long-standing institutional gap by providing a unified voice for rolling stock manufacturers, technology innovators, system integrators, MSMEs, and infrastructure developers to engage directly with policymakers and global stakeholders.

Driving the vision of ‘Viksit Rail 2047’

Conceived as a strategic enabler of the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 and Viksit Rail 2047 vision, the Rail Chamber aims to accelerate technological self-reliance in critical areas such as indigenous signalling systems, next-generation trainsets, advanced rolling stock, and Make-in-India manufacturing.

Key focus areas include policy advocacy, manufacturing competitiveness, supply-chain resilience, export promotion, and alignment of Indian standards with international benchmarks. By doing so, the Chamber seeks to position India not merely as a large rail operator, but as a global exporter of railway technologies and solutions.

“A dedicated, independent industry platform will accelerate innovation and global collaboration, while strengthening the institutional backbone required for India to become a true global railway powerhouse.”
— Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group; Board Member, Rail Chamber

Honouring Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s governance legacy

The launch of the Rail Chamber’s digital platform on December 25 pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose tenure laid the foundation for India’s modern infrastructure expansion, including the early reforms that reshaped Indian Railways.

In keeping with the spirit of Good Governance Day, the Chamber has pledged to promote data-driven decision-making, ethical business practices, and transparency in all industry engagements. While the digital platform is now live at www.railchamber.org, a grand physical launch event is planned in New Delhi in the coming months, expected to be attended by senior Railway Ministry officials and industry leaders.

A new apex body for a new railway era

Established as a Section 8 not-for-profit organisation, the Chamber of Railway Industries will function as the apex representative body for India’s railway manufacturing and services ecosystem. Its mandate extends beyond business advocacy to include research, indigenisation, start-up support, skilling, education, and social welfare initiatives, ensuring that sectoral growth remains inclusive and socially meaningful.

Special emphasis will be placed on nurturing young leadership, supporting rail-focused start-ups, and fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government institutions.

Shaping India’s rail future

As Indian Railways undergoes unprecedented modernisation—spanning high-speed corridors, advanced signalling systems, digital railways, and next-generation rolling stock—the Rail Chamber is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping policy direction and strengthening India’s standing in the global railway industry.

With this launch, India signals its intent to match global best practices and build a future-ready, innovation-led rail ecosystem—one anchored in good governance, industrial competitiveness, and global ambition.