The Indian Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is one of the largest globally, contributing approximately 9% to the nation's GDP and employing over 50 million people. As India’s infrastructure demands grow, the sector is expected to reach a market size of US$ 1.4 trillion by 2030. However, the sector continues to face significant challenges, including inefficiencies, delays, cost overruns, limited technology integration, and the aging of existing infrastructure, which is severely impacting overall productivity and growth.

Aging infrastructure, particularly in areas such as roads, railways, and water systems, is putting a strain on India’s economy. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), over 50% of India’s infrastructure is outdated and in urgent need of modernization. This deteriorating infrastructure is costing the country approximately US$ 100 billion per year in lost opportunities and inefficiencies. The Indian government has estimated that addressing the gap in maintenance and renewal of infrastructure could potentially unlock US$ 1 trillion in economic value by 2030. The cost of poor infrastructure is not just financial; it also impacts businesses, citizens, and overall national productivity, thereby hindering India's growth trajectory.

Digital solutions integration offers a viable solution to these issues, enabling the sector to improve efficiency, collaboration, and project outcomes. Technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twin, Geospatial, AI-driven design tools, and cloud-based project management systems have the potential to revolutionize the industry. These technologies can help modernize aging infrastructure, reduce delays, cut costs, and improve the quality of projects. The adoption of these tools is critical for enhancing productivity and meeting India’s ambitious infrastructure goals. As per NASSCOM, digital solutions are emerging as a game-changer, unlocking US$ 20-25 billion in economic value annually by 2025.

Government initiatives like the National Infrastructure Pipeline (₹111 lakh crore) and the Gati Shakti Master Plan are accelerating digital adoption, while the Smart Cities Mission is transforming urban infrastructure with projects worth ₹2 lakh crore. Yet, with 600 million people expected in urban areas by 2030 and 40% of the population facing water stress by 2030, scaling innovation is crucial to mitigate the effects of aging infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, the AEC Forum 2025, themed “Resilient Infrastructure through Digitalization: Enabling Viksit Bharat”, aims to explore how digital transformation can address these challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth. By focusing on key sectors like roads and highways, railways and metro, ports, water infrastructure, and building campuses & airports, the conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, share insights, and chart a path toward a resilient and sustainable infrastructure ecosystem for Viksit Bharat.