Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has launched this year’s Ekamra Walks with a special cycling trail for delegates attending the Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo 2026, using the programme to showcase sustainable mobility and the city’s green spaces.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra flagged off the trail at 6.30 am from a city hotel on Friday. Participants cycled to Ekamra Kanan and returned, experiencing Bhubaneswar’s natural landscape through an active and environment-friendly mode of transport.
The cycling event was designed to demonstrate how bicycles can connect mobility with the everyday urban experience. “Through the cycling trail, we strived to demonstrate how cycling can serve not only as a sustainable mode of transport but also as a means to connect residents and visitors with public spaces, green corridors and the everyday life of a city,” Mohapatra said.
The initiative forms part of BDA’s wider engagement with delegates attending UMI 2026. Ekamra Walks has curated additional experiences, including Walk in the Wilderness at Deras, heritage trails and Bhubaneswar by Night. Together, the programmes are intended to introduce participants to the city’s natural ecosystems, cultural heritage and changing urban character.
The walks cover several aspects of Bhubaneswar’s identity, including its ancient Kalingan temple architecture, green landscapes and evolution from a historic temple city into a modern planned urban centre. By placing a cycling route alongside heritage and nature-based experiences, the programme links the city’s public spaces and cultural assets with the mobility discussions taking place at the conference.
Ekamra Walks is an initiative of the BDA’s Heritage Cell, which regularly organises guided tours and experiential programmes around Bhubaneswar’s cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, natural landscapes and evolving urban identity. The cycling trail for UMI delegates adds an active-mobility component to those programmes and presents cycling as both a transport option and a way to experience the city.
The trail began and ended at the city hotel, with Ekamra Kanan serving as its destination. The wider Ekamra Walks programme will continue through the listed wilderness, heritage and night-time experiences for delegates attending the Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo 2026.
