As per various estimates, the annual investment required in the field of urban transport in the next 20 years, on a conservative side, is of the order of Rs. 1 lakh crore, which accounts for a large share of the total investment required in areas like water supply, sewerage, drainage, solid waste, housing and urban transport. To arrange this huge investment, competent manpower at the State and city levels would be required. Based on the policy direction, the Ministry of Urban Development has been organising since 2008 an annual conference-cum-exhibition on Urban Mobility. The overall aim is to bring the technology and service providers from India and abroad in the field of urban transport, including walkways, non-motorized transport, metro, bus, BRTS, LRT, trams, inland water transport, ropeways, parking and ITS, as well as the policy makers, practitioners and officials under one roof.
This provides a platform to urban transport professionals and officials in the country as well as international experts to facilitate exchange of information and also share their experiences.
The eighth edition of the event is scheduled to be held in New Delhi during November 24-27. To be inaugurated by the Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, the theme of the conference is “Transforming Mobility for Liveability”. Topical issues of national importance will be discussed under themes such as Greater Accessibility, Transforming Public Transport and Liveable Environment, and New and Innovative ideas.
Mr. Shashi Verma, Director of Communications, Transport for London (Tfl), will be delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session. The distinguished speakers at the conference include Mr. Stephen Yarwood, Ex-Mayor, Adelaide, Australia, Mr. Mohinder Singh, Advisor, LTA, Singapore, Dr. O.P. Agarwal, Advisor, World Bank, Dr. Kulwant Singh, Regional Advisor, UN – Habitat, Mr. Mangu Singh, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Mr. Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., Mr. Roger Alport, Imperial College, London, Ms. Susan Harris, CEO, ITS Australia, Dr. S. Gangopadhyay, Director, CRRI, Dr. Jonas Bleckmann, Climate Expert (Mitigation), Programme Office International Climate Initiative, and Mr. Alain Flausch, Secretary General, UITP.
Panel discussions on Innovative Financing for Metro Rail, Financing/Technology for Low Carbon Transport and Transforming Urban Transport creating Liveable Cities will also be held.
A special session on “Smart Mobility Solutions in Cities” will be organised for the Mayors of Municipal Corporations. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the knowledge partner of this event. Round-table discussions on certain focus areas of Urban Transport would be part of the conference. There will also be a research symposium at which papers from selected scholars will be presented.
Awards for excellence for best practices in various fields of Urban Transport, including the Best Initiative for Improved Road Safety, Best Intelligent Transport System Project, Best City Bus Service, Bust urban Mass Transit Project and the Best NMT Project will be presented on November 27.
Central and State Government officials, mayors, municipal commissioners, police officials, MDs and other senior officers of State Transport Undertakings and Metro Rail Corporations are expected to participate in the conference.
The last event held in November 2014 had participation of 1,000 delegates from 20 States/Union Territories and 25 foreign countries.