The 19th Urban Mobility India Conference began in Bhubaneswar on October 23 with a focus on making Indian cities more accessible, connected and liveable through integrated public transport and digital technology.
Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu inaugurated the two-day conference, which is being held on October 23 and 24. The event has been organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), with support from the Odisha Government.
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department attended the inaugural session. Representatives of metro rail companies, transport undertakings, industry, academia and national and international mobility organisations are also participating.
The conference theme, “Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age”, places public transport access and the quality of everyday urban travel at the centre of discussions. Sessions are covering sustainable and low-carbon public transport, multimodal integration, first- and last-mile connectivity, traffic congestion, emissions reduction and the use of digital systems to improve urban mobility.
Addressing the gathering, Sahu said that progress in urban development should be assessed by how safely, comfortably and independently citizens can travel within cities. He specifically referred to women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities while highlighting the need for more inclusive transport systems.
Sahu said India’s operational metro network had expanded from 248 km in 2014 to more than 1,185 km across 26 cities. Another 998 km of metro network is under construction, according to figures cited during the conference. He also referred to the National Common Mobility Card, QR-based ticketing and the PM e-Bus Sewa programme as initiatives intended to improve public transport access and sustainability.
The minister cited Odisha’s Ama Bus and Mo Bus services as examples of modern, technology-enabled public transport. The services were highlighted in the context of the wider discussion on how cities can combine public transport improvements with digital tools and more coordinated mobility planning.
An exhibition featuring urban transport practices from India and abroad, emerging technologies, services and mobility solutions was also inaugurated. Twenty-eight exhibitors, including the Odisha Government, metro rail companies, public-sector organisations and private entities, are taking part.
The first day included a conclave session, a technical session, three round-table discussions and a special session on comprehensive regional mobility planning. Discussions covered digital technology, data governance, institutional reforms and sustainable transport systems. The conference is being held as an annual initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the National Urban Transport Policy, 2006, and is intended to provide a platform for sharing mobility practices and solutions.
The conference will continue in Bhubaneswar on October 24, with further deliberations on urban accessibility, integrated transport infrastructure and liveability in Indian cities.
