The Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD) is an independent, not-for-profit organization devoted to capacity building, non-partisan research and regional cooperation in infrastructure sector with special focus on transport, trade and logistics. The Institute aims at promoting balanced, efficient, equitable and sustainable development. It also fosters regional cooperation and partnership, promotes human resource development and harmonisation of technologies for enhancing welfare. Set up in 1989 in pursuance of the recommendations of the National Transport Policy Committee (NTPC), the Institute has since come a long way. The United Nations Economic and Social Council has granted AITD a special consultative status. This status is awarded to select non-government organizations that have the necessary expertise, recognized standing within the particular field of its competence and have the capacity to assist the work of the United Nations. 

The Institute has strong linkages with regional organizations in South, South West and South East regions of Asian continent and provides substantive support to regional groupings like SAARC, BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, ECO, GMS, ASEAN, etc. in enhancing skill developments. The Institute has initiated several steps in support of promoting regional cooperation.  

The Institute took major imitative which resulted in setting up of a Forum of Chief Executives of Railways, establishing Asian Railway Association (ARA) in 2006, launching Regional Training Programme and extending research facilities for common use.