Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Manohar Lal Saturday said urban mobility must be integrated with city planning from the outset, calling transport infrastructure a key driver of economic growth.
Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Bhubaneswar, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Minister said India’s urban transport systems must focus on integration, inclusiveness and intelligence.
“Better transport was once considered the result of development, but today, it has become the foundation of development,” Lal said at the conference, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), with the support of the Odisha government.
He stressed the need to plan cities around citizens’ mobility requirements, ensuring easy access to workplaces, schools, hospitals and other essential services.
Elaborating on the three principles of integration, inclusiveness and intelligence, Lal said integration meant seamless connectivity among metro, bus, rail and other transport services, supported by efficient first- and last-mile connectivity.
Inclusiveness required safe, accessible and convenient transport for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other sections of society, while intelligence involved using artificial intelligence and real-time data to improve traffic management, passenger safety and public transport efficiency, he said.
The minister said since December 2025, the central government has approved nine Metro projects covering approximately 174 kilometres at a cost of over Rs 59,000 crore.
During the same period, an additional 102 km of Metro network has become operational. India’s operational Metro network has expanded to 1,185 km across 26 cities, he said.
The minister also highlighted progress under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme.
He informed that 1,100 electric buses have commenced operations in 28 cities, carrying an average of around 2.5 lakh passengers daily.
Referring to the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Policy 2026 approved for Delhi in April 2026, he said the policy will promote planned development and affordable housing across approximately 207 square kilometres along Metro, RRTS and railway corridors.
Referring to the deliberations during the conference, the minister said 14 sessions were organised over two days, with participation from around 1,500 delegates and experts from India and abroad.
As many as 28 exhibitors showcased innovations and solutions in urban transport.
The minister also presented awards recognising excellence in urban transport across various categories.
The Delhi Transport Corporation and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) were among the awardees in the ‘Excellence in Innovation and Smart Mobility Solutions’ category. DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar received the award from Lal.
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra and Chief Secretary Anu Garg also addressed the event.
The conference also featured a research symposium for scholars and PhD students, with 46 selected papers, including 20 oral presentations and 26 poster presentations.
PTI