18th Urban Mobility India Conference concludes

Union Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal Khattar said the expansion of Metro services was being undertaken to ease traffic congestion in the country’s crowded cities.

He announced that a separate licence for last-mile connectivity would no longer be required, as it would now be integrated within the metro service licence itself. Emphasising the importance of last-mile connectivity, especially in busy urban areas, he said this would ensure that people could easily reach their destinations.

The Union Minister was addressing representatives from various states during the valedictory session of the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition held in Gurugram. He congratulated all participants for the successful completion of the three-day conference and said that the event was not limited to discussions but aimed at implementing practical ideas shared by experts.

Khattar underlined the need to increase the number of electric vehicles and address challenges such as charging infrastructure. He said that India had surplus electricity, which would ensure sufficient power for charging stations, and stressed adopting new technologies such as superchargers that can charge vehicles quickly. He added that with the projected rise in India’s urban population by 2047, it was essential to work in a planned and innovative manner.

The Minister also encouraged the use of National Common Mobility Cards and QR codes to simplify payment systems.

He spoke about parking challenges in big cities like Delhi and said there was a need to address them effectively. He suggested that next year’s conference would include new topics and focus more on digital accessibility. He assured participants that the ideas discussed during the conference would be taken forward at the ministerial level. He added the government was working actively to develop better infrastructure and was committed to providing improved services in every sector.