States » EastPosted at: Oct 23 2026 7:48PM


Urban mobility key to building inclusive, sustainable cities, says Tokhan Sahu

Bhubaneswar, Oct 23 (UNI) India’s expanding metro rail network, digital ticketing systems and electric bus services are transforming urban transportation, making public mobility more accessible, efficient and sustainable, union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said on Friday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Sahu said the conference had emerged as an important national platform for shaping the future of urban transport and promoting innovative solutions to the mobility challenges facing India’s rapidly growing cities.
Highlighting this year’s theme, ‘Urban Accessibility and Liveability in the Digital Age’, the union Minister said the success of urban development should be measured by how safely, comfortably and independently citizens can move around cities. He emphasised that urban transport systems must cater to the needs of all sections of society, including women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Sahu highlighted the significant expansion of metro rail infrastructure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s operational metro network has grown from 248 kilometres in 2014 to more than 1,185 kilometres across 26 cities, he said, adding that work was underway on another 998 kilometres of metro lines.
He also underlined the role of initiatives such as the National Common Mobility Card, QR-based ticketing and PM e-Bus Sewa in improving public transport accessibility and encouraging sustainable mobility.
The two-day conference is being organised by the union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), with the support of the Odisha government.
The conference aims to explore ways to improve urban accessibility, integrate transport infrastructure and enhance the quality of urban life through emerging digital technologies. Key areas of discussion include sustainable and low-carbon public transport, seamless multimodal integration, first- and last-mile connectivity, reducing traffic congestion and emissions, and leveraging digital solutions to make cities more inclusive and liveable.
Appreciating the efforts of the Odisha government, Sahu cited the state’s Ama Bus and Mo Bus services as examples of modern, technology-enabled public transport.
He said efficient, accessible and inclusive urban mobility would play a crucial role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Expressing confidence in the conference’s outcomes, he said the deliberations would help generate innovative solutions to make Indian cities more accessible, inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said urban mobility was not merely about transportation but also about improving citizens’ quality of life and making cities more accessible, inclusive and sustainable.
As Odisha’s cities continue to grow, the state government is focusing on developing safe, reliable, affordable and people-centric public transport systems that respond to the everyday needs of commuters, he said.
Through initiatives such as Ama Bus and Ama E-Ride, the state is taking meaningful steps towards making urban mobility more convenient and accessible for students, working professionals, women and other commuters, Mahapatra added.
Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the state was committed to transforming urban mobility through an 8S approach encompassing Service Access and Service Reliability, Smart Mobility, Sustainability, Systems, Safety, Seamlessness, Samaveshi (inclusiveness) and Satisfaction.
With around 800 buses operating across eight cities, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) is strengthening public transport through digital ticketing, greater participation of women drivers and improved commuter convenience, she said.
Garg added that the state was expanding electric vehicle infrastructure while working towards an integrated, inclusive and sustainable mobility ecosystem that would make public transport safer, smarter and more accessible to all.
Welcoming the dignitaries and delegates, Satendra Singh, Secretary in the Department of Urban Development, MoHUA, said the Urban Mobility India Conference had evolved into an important international platform for sharing best practices and addressing urban transport challenges since its inception in 2008.
Bhubaneswar is hosting the conference for the first time, marking an important opportunity for Odisha to showcase its urban mobility initiatives and engage with experts and policymakers from across India and abroad.
Around 1,500 delegates from India and other countries are expected to participate in the two-day event, which features technical sessions, round-table discussions and research symposiums, Singh said.
He expressed confidence that the deliberations would help shape policies and strategies for delivering efficient, sustainable and high-quality urban transport solutions to India's growing urban population.
The conference brings together policymakers, urban planners, transport experts and other stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to building cities where mobility is accessible, affordable, efficient and sustainable for everyone.
UNI DP
Tags: #Urban mobility key to building inclusive# sustainable cities# says Tokhan Sahu
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