18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024
IN NEWS
18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025 concluded in Gurugram, Haryana, with Chennai, Udaipur, and Aizawl emerging as top award winners for their innovative and sustainable urban transport systems.
ANALYSIS
- About the Event:
- The 18th UMI Conference & Exhibition 2025 was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
- The three-day event aimed to promote sustainable urban mobility, share best practices, and strengthen policy frameworks for future-ready urban transport systems.
- It featured 1 conclave session, 2 plenary sessions, 8 technical sessions, 8 round tables, and 8 research symposiums, with participation from over 1,600 delegates and 170 speakers from 8 countries.
- Key Highlights:
- Launch of PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme logo and website by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power.
- Emphasis on urban mobility planning for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to ensure they are prepared for future growth.
- Call for expanding Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) beyond Delhi–NCR to Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
- Proposal to introduce premium/luxury compartments in metro systems to attract high-income commuters and enhance inclusivity and financial sustainability.
- Announcement of 19th UMI Conference 2026 to be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha (23–25 October 2026).
- Awards Presented:
The conference recognized excellence in urban transport under eight categories:- City with the Best Public Transport System:
- Winner: Chennai – Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd.
- Commendation: Hubballi-Dharwad – Hubballi-Dharwad BRTS Company Ltd.
- City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System:
- Winner: Udaipur – Udaipur Smart City Limited
- Special Mention: Thrissur – State Mission Management
- City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism:
- Winner: Pimpri Chinchwad – Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
- City with the Best Green Transport Initiative:
- Winner: Hyderabad – Telangana Renewable Energy Development Corporation Ltd. (TGREDCO)
- Commendation: Kochi – Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.
- Metro Rail with the Best Multimodal Integration:
- Winner: Chennai – Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.
- Metro Rail with the Best Passenger Services & Satisfaction:
- Winner: Delhi – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
- Commendation: Chennai – Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.
- Running Trophy for Best Urban Transport Project (State/UT):
- Winners:
- Kolkata – West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Ltd.
- Mysuru – Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
- Special Mention: Bhubaneswar – Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT)
- Winners:
- Special Award for Efficient Traffic Management System:
- Winner: Aizawl – Town & Country Planning Department, Mizoram
- City with the Best Public Transport System:
- Exhibition Awards:
- 1st Prize: National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC)
- 2nd Prize: Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
- 3rd Prize: Embassy of Spain
STATIC PART
- Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference:
- An annual event organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) since 2008.
- Objective: To promote sustainable urban transport and facilitate capacity building for city and state officials.
- Provides a platform for cities to share innovations, best practices, and policy directions in urban mobility.
- PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme:
- A flagship central initiative to deploy electric buses in urban areas through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
- Aims to reduce emissions, enhance last-mile connectivity, and promote green urban transport.
- Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS):
- A high-speed regional rail network designed to connect major urban centers.
- Implemented by NCRTC, with plans to expand to other metropolitan regions as per the Minister’s announcement.
Updated – 09 Nov 2025 ; 7:30 PM | PIB