Prof. Rachna Gangwar

Designation: Professor

Academic Area: Public Policy, Transportation Systems, Multimodal Logistics

Brief Profile:

Dr Rachna Gangwar is Professor at Adani University Ahmedabad. She has more than 22 years of experience working across industry and academia in India and Germany. Her teaching and research interests are in transportation systems, public policy, public-private partnerships, urban transport systems, and multimodal logistics.
Dr Gangwar has written several case studies on contemporary issues in the Indian context. She has been a part of research projects undertaken for the erstwhile Planning Commission, Asian Development Bank, and Railway Board on private container train operations, railway turnaround, and PPPs in railways.
Prior to joining Adani University, she held teaching and research positions at the University of Karlsruhe Germany, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad, and TAPMI School of Business Jaipur. Her industry experience includes working for PTV AG, one of the largest German consulting firms in transport and logistics where she was associated with several European projects for government clients.
She is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics Transport, and a Member of Transportation Research Group of India, and The World Conference of Transport Research Society.


  • Ph.D.: CEPT University, Ahmedabad
  • M.Sc.: University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany
  • B. Arch: Government College of Architecture, Lucknow

  • Associate Professor, Adani University (2020-2023)
  • Associate Professor, Manipal University Jaipur (2014-2020)
  • Assistant Professor, Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad (2013-2014)
  • Project Associate, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (2006-2010)
  • Transport Planner. Planung Transport Verkehr (PTV) AG, Karlsruhe, Germany (2000-2003)
  • Scientific Associate, Institute of Urban & Regional Planning (ISL), University of Karlsruhe, Germany (1998-1999)

  • Chartered Member, The Chartered Institute of Transport India
  • Life Member, Transportation Research Group of India
  • Member, World Conference on Transport Research Society
  • Member, Council of Architecture

  • Felicitation by Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) India for outstanding contribution to Logistics and WiLAT, 2023
  • DAAD Fellowship to speak at the KIT Alumni expert seminar ‘Mobility Systems of the Future’ at Shanghai, 2016
  • PACTS Programme Fellowship for summer course at University of Azores, Portugal, 2012
  • Rector Scholarship, University of Karlsruhe (1997-1998)

  • Transport Policy and Regulation, Mobility as a Service, Multimodal Logistics, Public Private Partnerships

Book

  1. ‘Infrastructure Development – Theory, Practice & Policy: Sustainability and Resilience,’ New York: Routledge, 2022, ISBN: 978-1-032-11466-8, DOI: 10.4324/9781003311157 (Scopus Indexed) (with Astha Agarwalla and Sandhya Sreekumar)

Peer Reviewed Papers in Journals/Books

  1. ‘Public Private Partnership in Passenger Train Operations’ Vikalpa, SAGE Publication, Volume 48 Issue 1, 2023 (DOI: 10.1177/02560909231162955) (with G Raghuram and Charu Rastogi)
  2. ‘Infrastructure Development: Ensuring Environmentally Sustainable Outcomes’, in Gangwar, Rachna; Agarwalla, Astha and Sreekumar, Sandhya (Eds) Infrastructure Development – Theory, Practice and Policy: Sustainability, Routledge, 2022, ISBN 978-1-032-11466-8 (with G Raghuram)
  3. ‘Railways in India: Challenges and Opportunities’, In Finger, Matthias and Montero, Juan (ED). Handbook on Railway Regulation – Concepts and Practice, DOI: 10.4337/9781789901788.00015, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 146–164, Sep. 2020.
  4. ‘Implications of Vertical Unbundling on Indian Railways: Lessons from German Railways,’ Transportation Research Procedia (Elsevier), Volume 25, 2017, Pp 4529-4543 (with G Raghuram)
  5. ‘Smart Cities and the Challenges of Control of Water Resource for Sustainable Future,’ International Journal on Emerging Technologies, 2017. ISBN: 0975-8364 (with Sandhya Sreekumar)
  6. ‘Framework for Structuring PPPs in Railways,’ Case Studies on Transport Policy (Elsevier). Volume 3, Issue 3, September 2015, pp 295-303. (with G Raghuram)
  7. ‘Container Movement by Rail in India: A Review of Policy Evolution,’ Transport Policy (Elsevier) 22(2012), pp 20-28. (with Sebastian Morris, Ajay Pandey and G Raghuram)
  8. ‘Containerization in India – Building Global Trade Competitiveness,’ Transportation System Studies and Policy Analysis, Himalaya Publishing House, Mumbai, pp 222-242. 2010 (with G Raghuram)
  9. ‘How Can Indian Railways Service the Steel Sector Better?’ Selected Papers of 12th World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR) 2010, Lisbon, Portugal. (with G Raghuram)
  10. ‘4P Model of Freight Business for Indian Railways,’ India Infrastructure Report – 2008, 3iNetwork, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, pp 122-133. (with G Raghuram)
  11. ‘PPP Model of Indian Airports – Lessons from Delhi and Mumbai Airport Concessions,’ India Infrastructure Report – 2008, 3iNetwork, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, pp 134-139. (with Rekha Jain and G Raghuram)
  12. ‘Marketing Strategies for Freight Traffic on Indian Railways – A Systems Perspective,’ Management Science and Practice, Allied Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. 2007 (with G Raghuram)

Opinion Articles in Media

  1. Why selling CONCOR as a single entity will hurt the industry, Money Control, November 18, 2022 (with G Raghuram)
  2. A tipping point for IR operations and growth, Rail Business, Volume 12, Issue 59 – October 2021
  3. The privatization initiative for intercity passenger train operations: a steep uncharted road ahead, Rail Business, Volume 11, Issue 55 – October 2020 (with G Raghuram and Charu Rastogi)
  4. Why private trains alone will not be enough to modernize the railways, Money Control, July 06, 2020
  5. Platform for development: need for an independent regulator, Indian Infrastructure, Thirteenth Anniversary Issue, August 2011. (with G Raghuram)

Case Studies

  1. ‘Arshiya Rail Infrastructure Ltd,’ Impact of Container Train Policy on a Container Train Operator, Year of Case Event 2011, Registration Number: CIPR 0011, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. (with G Raghuram)
  2. ‘Container Train Operations: Introducing Competition, Case Series of 3 (A, B & C),’ Developing a Policy Framework for Container Train Operations, Process for Finalizing a Model Concession Agreement, The Model Concession Agreement and Overall Issues, Year of Case Event: 2005, Registration Number: CIPR 0007(A), Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. (with G Raghuram, Sebastian Morris and Ajay Pandey)
  3. ‘MoPT and SWPL: Handling of Coal/Coke,’ Conflicts Due to Lack of Rigor in Concession/License Agreements, Year of Case Event: 2008, Registration Number: CIPR 0006, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 2010 (with G Raghuram)
  4. ‘JSW Steel Ltd: Logistics at Vijayanagar Works,’ Inbound and Outbound Logistics Strategy for a Steel Plant with a Focus on Increased Rail Share, Year of Case Event: 2008, Registration Number: PSG 108, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 2009 (with G Raghuram)
  5. ‘MbPT: Crude Import for Mumbai based Oil Refineries,’ Choice between SPM and Jetty at the Mumbai Port, Year of Case Event: 2006, Registration Number: CIPR 0008, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 2008 (with G Raghuram)
  6. ‘Airport Privatization: Bidding Process for Delhi and Mumbai Case series of 5 (A, B, C, D & E),’ Decision on the Bids by the Empowered Group of Ministers, Decision on Choice of Airport by GMR, Way Forward by Reliance after Having No Airports, Decision Context for the Supreme Court, Summary of the Supreme Court Judgement, Year of Case Event: 2006, Registration Number: PSG 102(A), Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 2007 (with Rekha Jain and G Raghuram)

Working Papers

  1. ‘A Critique of the Initiative for Public Private Partnership in Passenger Train Operations’, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, IIMB-WP No. 623, Oct. 2020 (https://repository.iimb.ac.in/bitstream/2074/16707/1/WP_IIMB_623.pdf) (with G Raghuram and Charu Rastogi)
  2. ‘Lessons from PPPs of Indian Railways and Way Forward,’ Working Paper No. 2010-08-02, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, August 2010. ( https://www.iima.ac.in/sites/default/files/rnpfiles/2010-08-02Raghuram.pdf) (with G Raghuram)
  3. ‘Container Train Operators in India: Problems and Prospects,’ Working paper No. 2010-09-01, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, September 2010. ( https://www.iima.ac.in/sites/default/files/rnpfiles/2010-09-01gangwar.pdf) (with G Raghuram)
  4. ‘Introducing Competition in Container Movement by Rail,’ Working Paper No 2010-02-02, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, February 2010 ( https://web.iima.ac.in/assets/snippets/workingpaperpdf/2010-02-02Raghuram.pdf and http://gajendrahaldea.in/pdf/container_paper.pdf) (with Sebastian Morris, Ajay Pandey and G Raghuram)
  5. ‘How Can Indian Railways Service the Steel Sector Better?’ Working Paper No 2009-04-04, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, April 2009. ( https://www.iima.ac.in/sites/default/files/rnpfiles/2009-04-04Raghuram.pdf) (with G Raghuram)
  6. ‘Indian Railways in the Past Twenty Years: Issues, Performance and Challenges,’ Working Paper No. 2008-07-05, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, July 2008. (https://www.iima.ac.in/sites/default/files/rnpfiles/2008-07-05Raghuram.pdf) (with G Raghuram)
  7. ‘Containerization – Building Global Trade Competitiveness,’ Working Paper No 2007-10-03, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, October 2007. ( https://www.iima.ac.in/sites/default/files/rnpfiles/2007-10-03Raghuram.pdf) (with G Raghuram)
  8. ‘Marketing Strategies for Freight Traffic on Indian Railways: A Systems Perspective’ Working Paper No 2007-07-03, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, July 2007. ( https://web.iima.ac.in/publications/data/2007-07-03Raghuram.pdf) (with G Raghuram)
  9. ‘Airport Privatization in India: Lessons from the Bidding Process in Delhi and Mumbai.’ Working Paper No 2007-05-01, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, May 2007. ( https://www.iima.ac.in/sites/default/files/rnpfiles/15501336412007-05-01.pdf) (with Rekha Jain and G Raghuram)

Expert Lectures

  1. ‘Policies & Way Forward for Terminal Management,’ Professional Certificate Program in Terminal Management, Conducted by Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, February 12, 2023 & October 29, 2023
  2. ‘Industry Perspective – Policy, Regulatory Reforms and Experience for Port, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure” Roundtable by Government of Gujarat (March 30, 2022)
  3. ‘Tourism and Multi-modal Transport,’ Training Programme for BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and allied countries, National Academy of Indian Railways, Vadodara in association with Asian Institute of Transport Development, March 14, 2016
  4. ‘Social Costs of Transport Modes,’ Training Programme for BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and allied countries, National Academy of Indian Railways, Vadodara in association with Asian Institute of Transport Development, September 18, 2014
  5. ‘Public Private Partnerships in Railways,’ Workshop for Senior Indian Railway Officers, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, September 26-28, 2013
  6. ‘Hinterland Connectivity: Potential for Rail,’ Orientation programme for newly recruited employees of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), BK School of Business Management, Ahmedabad, September 4-8, 2012
  7. ‘PPPs in Ports: Case of SWPL,’ Orientation programme for newly recruited employees of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), BK School of Business Management, Ahmedabad, September 4-8, 2012
  8. ‘Regulatory Issues in the Indian Port Sector,’ Training Programme on Developments in Transport Infrastructure, Faculty of Technology, CEPT University, March 5-10, 2012.
  9. ‘Rail PPPs: International Experiences,’ 5th Annual Conference on Railways in India – New Initiatives: Developing Infrastructure, Improving Operations, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, November 3-4, 2011
  10. ‘Arshiya Rail Infrastructure Ltd,’ 5th Annual Conference on Developing Container Infrastructure: Trends and Outlook, Issues and Opportunities, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, July 21-22, 2011
  11. ‘Issues in Container Train Operations,’ 5th Annual Conference on Developing Container Infrastructure: Trends and Outlook, Issues and Opportunities, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, July 21-22, 2011
  12. ‘Container Train Operations: International Perspective,’ 4th Annual Conference on Developing Container Infrastructure: Trends and Outlook, Issues and Opportunities, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, July 21-22, 2010
  13. ‘Focus on Container Infrastructure: Container Train Operations,’ 3rd Annual Conference on Expansion & Upgradation of Railways: Plans & New Initiatives; Issues & Opportunities, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, December 1-2, 2009
  14. ‘Private Train Container Operators: Status and Issues,’ 3rd Annual Conference on Developing Container Infrastructure: Progress & Plans, Approaches & Solutions, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, May 27-28, 2009
  15. ‘PPP in Railways: Potential and Experience,’ 2nd Annual Conference on Expansion & Upgradation of the Railways Progress & Plans, Issues & Opportunities, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd., New Delhi, December 10-11, 2008
  16. ‘Rail Infrastructure and Container Trains,’ 2nd Annual Conference on Developing Container Infrastructure: Progress & Plans, Approaches & Solutions, Indian Infrastructure Publishing (P) Ltd, New Delhi, July 28-29, 2008.
  17. ‘Transportation Issues in India,’ Special Lecture at the Institut fuer Staedtebau und Landesplanung as a part of the course ‘Raum- und Infrastrukturentwicklung,’ University of Karlsruhe, Germany, May 07, 2008.
  18. Guest Lectures on Transport Infrastructure for PG Course in Infrastructure Planning, Faculty of Planning and Public Policy, CEPT University, September 2008.
  19. ‘Urban Public Transport: Institutional and Regulatory Issues,’ Short Term Training Programme on ‘Emerging Trends in Transportation Engineering,’ LD College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, May 30, 2007.