THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 23, 2026

India’s operational metro rail network has expanded from 248 km in 2014 to over 1,185 km across 26 cities, with another 998 km of metro lines under construction, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said on Friday.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2026 here, Sahu said the expansion of metro networks, alongside initiatives such as the National Common Mobility Card, QR-based ticketing and PM e-Bus Sewa, was transforming urban transport and making public mobility more accessible and sustainable.

The two-day conference, being held on October 23-24 at Hotel Mayfair Sanctuary, was inaugurated by Sahu and Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. Organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), with support from the Odisha government, the event has brought together policymakers, transport experts, industry representatives and academicians from India and abroad.

Held under the theme “Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age”, the conference seeks to explore technology-driven solutions for improving urban connectivity, integrating different modes of transport and making cities more inclusive, sustainable and liveable.

 “True progress in urban development should be measured by how safely, comfortably and independently citizens, including women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, can travel within cities,” Sahu said, underlining the importance of people-centric urban transport systems.

Appreciating Odisha’s efforts to strengthen public transport, the minister highlighted the state’s Ama Bus services as an example of modern, technology-enabled mobility. He expressed confidence that the deliberations would generate innovative solutions to help Indian cities become more accessible, inclusive and environmentally sustainable, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Mahapatra said urban mobility was not merely about transportation but also about improving citizens’ quality of life and ensuring that cities remained accessible, inclusive and sustainable.

 “As Odisha’s cities continue to grow, our focus is on developing safe, reliable, affordable and people-centric public transport systems that respond to the everyday needs of citizens,” he said, highlighting the state’s Ama Bus and Ama E-Ride initiatives.

Mahapatra said the conference offered an important platform for states and urban transport experts to exchange ideas, share best practices and explore innovative solutions for the future of cities.

Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the state was pursuing an eight-pronged approach to urban mobility, encompassing service access and reliability, smart mobility, sustainability, systems, safety, seamlessness, inclusivity and commuter satisfaction.

With around 800 buses serving eight cities, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) was strengthening public transport through digital ticketing, greater participation of women drivers and improved commuter convenience, she said. The state was also expanding electric vehicle infrastructure to develop an integrated and sustainable mobility ecosystem.

Earlier, welcoming the delegates, Satendra Singh, Secretary in the Department of Urban Development under the Union ministry, said the conference was being held in Bhubaneswar for the first time since its inception in 2008. It had evolved into an important international platform for exchanging best practices and addressing challenges in urban transport, he said.

Around 1,500 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the two-day event, which features technical sessions, round-table discussions and research symposiums, Singh said.

An exhibition showcasing urban transport technologies, best practices and innovative mobility solutions was also inaugurated by Sahu in the presence of Mahapatra and other dignitaries. A total of 28 exhibitors, including representatives of state governments, metro rail companies, public sector organisations and private entities, are participating in the exhibition.

The first day featured a conclave, a technical session, three round-table discussions and a special session on comprehensive regional mobility planning. Discussions centred on digital technologies, data governance, institutional reforms, gender-responsive urban planning, modernising bus systems and reducing transport-related air pollution.

The conclave on liveability, mobility and accessibility in the digital age examined how digital connectivity could reduce the need for physical travel while improving access to urban infrastructure, particularly for elderly people and persons with disabilities. Participants also stressed the need to integrate safety, privacy and inclusivity into mobility systems.

A technical session on data governance and intelligent transport explored the use of cameras, sensors, GPS and artificial intelligence for traffic management, road safety and efficient transport operations. Issues relating to data security, privacy, interoperability and integrated mobility platforms were also discussed.

Other deliberations focused on gender-responsive urban planning, the role of special purpose vehicles in modernising bus operations, the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme and the potential of low-emission zones to curb transport-related pollution and protect public health.

A special session examined Odisha’s experience in integrating urban and regional transport through Ama Bus and Ama E-Ride services, including connectivity across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur.

A research symposium is being organised to encourage young scholars and PhD students to present their work on urban mobility. Of the 46 research papers selected through peer review, 20 will be presented by researchers, while 26 will be showcased through posters. The three best papers, selected by a jury, will receive cash awards of Rs 25,000 each.

The second day of the conference on October 24 will feature discussions on transit-oriented development, people-centric streets, behavioural change, public communication, intelligent and secure mobility, and rail-led integrated urban development.

The event will conclude with a valedictory session where awards for excellence and best-practice projects in urban transport will be presented to outstanding states, cities and transport organisations. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal is scheduled to deliver the valedictory address and present the awards alongside Mahapatra.

The UMI Conference and Exhibition will be followed by the National Urban Conclave 2026, scheduled for October 24-25 at the same venue in Bhubaneswar.