States » EastPosted at: Oct 24 2026 8:34PM


Integration, Inclusiveness and Intelligence to shape India’s future urban mobility: Manohar Lal

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24 (UNI) union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal on Saturday said that India’s future urban mobility systems must be built around three key principles—integration, inclusiveness and intelligence—to ensure seamless connectivity, accessible transport and efficient urban development.
Addressing the valedictory session of the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition in Bhubaneswar, the Minister emphasised that urban transport planning must be integrated with city development from the outset, as efficient mobility infrastructure has become a key foundation for economic growth and sustainable urbanisation.
Explaining the three principles, Lal said integration entails seamless connectivity among metro rail, buses, railways and other transport services, supported by efficient first- and last-mile connectivity.
Inclusiveness, he said, requires safe, accessible and convenient transport facilities for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and all sections of society. Intelligence, meanwhile, involves leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and real-time data to improve traffic management, passenger safety and the overall efficiency of public transport systems.
The union Minister stressed the need to plan cities around the mobility requirements of citizens, ensuring convenient access to workplaces, educational institutions, hospitals and other essential services.
Highlighting the expansion of urban transport infrastructure, Lal said that since December 2025, the Government of India had approved nine metro projects covering approximately 174 kilometres at a total cost of more than Rs 59,000 crore. During the same period, another 102 kilometres of metro network had become operational.
He further stated that India's operational metro network had expanded to 1,185 kilometres across 26 cities, reflecting the country's continued efforts to strengthen urban public transport.
Reviewing progress under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, the Minister said that 1,100 electric buses had commenced operations in 28 cities, carrying an average of around 2.5 lakh passengers every day. The initiative, he noted, was contributing to the expansion of public transport services while supporting cleaner and more sustainable urban mobility.
Referring to the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Policy 2026 approved for Delhi in April 2026, Lal said the policy would promote planned urban development and affordable housing across approximately 207 square kilometres along Metro, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and railway corridors.
Reflecting on the deliberations at the two-day conference, the Minister said that 14 sessions had been organised, bringing together around 1,500 delegates and experts from India and abroad. A total of 28 exhibitors showcased innovations, technologies and solutions aimed at improving urban transport systems.
He noted that discussions during the conference had underscored the importance of integrating mobility planning with broader urban development strategies. Participants also explored the use of data generated through telecommunications networks, mobile applications and digital platforms to support evidence-based planning of metro, bus and other public transport services.
Lal expressed satisfaction that the conference had given due importance to non-motorised transport, including walking and cycling, as well as the development of people-centric streets. The discussions also highlighted the need to address the specific mobility requirements of women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Congratulating the states, cities and organisations recognised for their excellence in urban transport, the union Minister called upon all stakeholders to translate the recommendations and ideas emerging from the conference into concrete action plans.
He emphasised that coordinated efforts by governments, urban local bodies, transport agencies and other stakeholders would be essential to building safe, accessible, efficient and citizen-centric mobility systems for India's rapidly growing cities.
UNI DP
Tags: #Integration# Inclusiveness and Intelligence to shape India’s future urban mobility: Manohar Lal
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