The 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024 concluded with a valedictory session led by Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Shri Manohar Lal, at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This three-day event brought together key stakeholders and experts to discuss advancements in sustainable urban mobility solutions.
The UMI awards recognize excellence and best practices in urban transport across various categories,
- City with the Most Sustainable Transport System
- City with the Best Public Transport System
- City with the Best Non-Motorised Transport System
- City with the Best Safety and Security System & Record
- City with the Best Intelligent Transport System (ITS)
- City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism
- City with the Best Record of Public Involvement in Transport
- City with the Best Freight Transport System
- City with the Best Green Transport Initiative
- Metro Rail with the Best Multimodal Integration
- Metro Rail with the Best Passenger Services and Satisfaction
- Running Trophy for the State/UT with the Best Urban Transport Projects
Key Dignitaries Present
- Shri Tokhan Sahu: Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs.
- Shri Kanubhai Desai: Minister of Finance and Energy, Government of Gujarat.
- Shri K C Mohapatra: Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Public Enterprises, Government of Odisha.
- Shri Srinivas R Katikithala: Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
Bhubaneswar Recognized for Excellence in Public Transport
- Bhubaneswar was awarded the title of ‘City with the Best Public Transport System’ at the Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024.
- The award was presented to Odisha’s Housing & Urban Development Minister, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Manohar Lal.
Minister’s Statement
- Dr. Mahapatra emphasized that the award symbolizes a collective commitment to creating a sustainable future aligned with the “Viksit Odisha” vision.
- He highlighted the significant improvements in public transport that have altered the travel experience for citizens of Odisha.
- The state has adopted innovative technologies and expanded its transport network, prioritizing passenger safety and accessibility.
Complete List of awardees are as under,
| Sr. No | Award Category | Winner/City | Organization |
| 1 | City with the Most Sustainable Transport System | Kochi | Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. |
| 2 | City with the Best Public Transport System | Bhubaneswar | Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) |
| 3 | City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System | Srinagar | Srinagar Smart City Ltd. |
| 4 | City with the Best Safety and Security System & Record | Gandhinagar | Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation |
| 5 | City with the Best Intelligent Transport System (ITS) | Surat | Surat Municipal Corporation |
| 6 | City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism | Jammu | Jammu Smart City Ltd. |
| 7 | City with Best Record of Public Involvement in Transport | Bengaluru | Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation |
| 8 | Metro Rail with the Best Multimodal Integration | Bengaluru | Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. |
| 9 | Metro Rail with the Best Passenger Services and Satisfaction | Mumbai | Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd. |
Overview of the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024
Organizer
- Organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
- Conducted through the Institute of Urban Transport (India) with support from the Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
Event Details
- Over 2,200 delegates, including more than 50 international participants.
- 76 exhibitors participated from Metro Rail Companies, public and private sectors.
- Included 67 Indian exhibitors and 17 foreign exhibitors from countries like Germany, France, and Spain.
- The exhibition showcased best practices in urban transport and the latest urban transport technologies.
Significance
- The conference serves as a major platform for Indian manufacturers and foreign manufacturing companies to network and showcase innovations in urban transport.
Conference Theme and Focus Areas
Theme : Focused on “Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions”.
Key Discussions
- Emphasized the need for standardization to optimize urban mobility, particularly in the Indian context.
- Discussed frameworks for integrating various modes of transport to improve urban mobility.
- Explored multilateral and bilateral funding opportunities under the Make in India policy.
- Highlighted the importance of big data for effective transport planning.
- Focused on the development of an E-Bus ecosystem in India.
- Discussed principles of digital public infrastructure related to the transition to electric buses.
- Addressed the necessity of benchmarking costs within the Metro system for economic viability.
- Explored innovative financing mechanisms to tackle challenges in urban transport.