PARTHA ROY, KOLKATA: The cement industry is a cornerstone of India’s economic growth and infrastructure development, supplying the essential material that fuels urbanisation, powers construction of roads, bridges, housing and industrial corridors, and drives employment, tax revenues and technological innovation across the nation.

Indian Chamber of Commerce hosted the 8th Cementing India Conference on December 2, 2025 in Kolkata . Senior leaders from manufacturing, real estate, sustainability and consulting deliberated to map the future of India’s cement industry. Discussions highlighted how digital transformation, tighter environmental regulations and sustainability imperatives are reshaping the sector amid rapid infrastructure growth.

It was explained that recent amendments to the Air Act impose stricter siting rules, with mandatory online compliance monitoring introducing real‑time transparency. Green‑belt requirements have been relaxed, and large‑scale plantation and water‑positive initiatives were cited as part of a long‑term sustainability architecture. The conference also noted capacity expansions, a nationwide technical‑support network training hundreds of thousands of masons, and the rollout of advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics and AI to boost safety and efficiency. Emerging opportunities in green cement and precast concrete were identified as key growth drivers.