Bhubaneswar: Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs Tokhan Sahu on Friday inaugurated the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2026, which will focus on sustainable public transport, multimodal integration, first- and last-mile connectivity and traffic congestion. This is the first time Bhubaneswar is hosting the annual event.Around 1,500 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in technical sessions, round-table discussions and research symposiums at the two-day conference, organised by the ministry of housing and urban affairs with support from the state govt.This year’s theme, ’Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age’, focuses on leveraging emerging technologies to improve integrated transport infrastructure and quality of urban life.Additionally, discussions will also cover key aspects such as vehicle emissions reduction and inclusive mobility solutions.Addressing a gathering, Sahu said progress in urban mobility should be measured by how safely, comfortably and independently citizens, including women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, are able to move in cities.Highlighting India’s urban transport achievements, he said the country’s operational metro rail network has expanded from 248 km in 2014 to more than 1,185 km across 26 cities, while construction is underway on an additional 998 km. He highlighted initiatives such as the National Common Mobility Card, QR-based ticketing and PM e-Bus Sewa.The minister also cited Odisha‘s Ama Bus service as an example of a technology-enabled public transport system and said efficient and inclusive urban mobility will play a crucial role in achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.State housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said mobility was not merely about transportation but creating sustainable cities. He added that the state was strengthening people-centric transport through initiatives such as Ama Bus and Ama E-Ride.Chief secretary Anu Garg said Odisha was transforming urban mobility through its “8S” framework, encompassing service access and reliability, smart mobility, sustainability, systems, safety, seamlessness, inclusivity and commuter satisfaction. “Around 800 buses currently serve eight cities in the state. Crut is focusing on digital ticketing, greater participation of women drivers and improved commuter convenience,” she said.Union housing and urban affairs secretary Satendra Singh said the conference, launched in 2008 under the National Urban Transport Policy, has evolved into an international forum for sharing best practices.
