Post-Event Report of the 3rd Urban Infra Business Summit and Awards 2023

MRT Online Desk Posted on: 2023-12-07 18:10:00 Viewer: 2,922 Comments: 0 Country: India City: New Delhi

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The 3rd Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2023, held on 7th December 2023 at the India International Centre, New Delhi, brought together visionaries, experts, and industry leaders to delve into the critical facets of urban infrastructure development. This post-event report highlights the key insights, discussions, and accolades presented during this groundbreaking summit.

Inauguration - Illuminating Ideas for Progress

Lamp Lighting & Inauguration

The event commenced with a symbolic lamp lighting ceremony, featuring esteemed personalities like Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidayala; Prof. (Dr.) Sujeet Mishra, Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management (IRITM); Prof. (Dr.) Surabhi Singh, GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research (GLBIMR); Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Former Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways; Mr. M. C. Chauhan, Former General Manager (North Central Railways & Metro Railway Kolkata), and Mr. Ashesh Agrawal, Former General Manager, Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Ministry of Railways. The stage was set for a day of profound discussions.

Welcome Note & Keynote Addresses

Mr. Surya Shah, Vice President of Urban Infra Group, extended a warm welcome, paving the way for keynote addresses by Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary and Dr. Sujeet Mishra, setting the tone for the summit.

Need of talented manpower for the Railways & Transportation Industry

In his opening remark and keynote address, Dr. Choudhary said that Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) is creating best in class manpower and talent for the entire transportation and logistics sectors. The GSV is sponsored by the Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India and is mandated to work across railways, shipping, ports, highways, roads, waterways, and aviation etc.

Following a demand-driven curriculum and leveraging state of the art infrastructure of all the Centralized Training Institutes of Indian Railways, the GSV shall create a resource pool of professionals across technology, economics, management and policy comprising multidisciplinary teaching (bachelors/masters/doctoral), executive training and research. GSV shall also undertake training for Indian Railways probationers and serving officers. Being an Industry-driven and Innovation-led university, GSV has a very strong focus on collaborations with leading institutions and industries across the world.

AI-Enabled Marketing in Urban Transport Infrastructure

Prof. (Dr.) Surabhi Singh explored the impact of AI-enabled marketing on urban transport infrastructure, providing valuable insights into leveraging technology for development.

Mumbai's Transformation towards Sustainable Urban Infrastructure

Mr. Anil Salunkhe, Director (Works) - Metro, MMRDA, shared a visionary perspective on transforming Mumbai into a role model for sustainable urban infrastructure. He given a detailed presentation and insights on development of mass rapid transit systems in Mumbai.

Financing the Future - Panel Discussions

Financing of Major Urban Infrastructure Projects

An insightful panel discussion, featuring Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director, Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Project Director, National Highways for EV (#NHforEV); Mr. Nitin N. Kumar, Director (Transport & Logistics), PwC India and Dr. Namrita Kalsi, Chief Architect, Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) delved into investment landscapes, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing models.

The centre of discussion were Investment Landscape and Opportunities, Public-Private Partnership Models, Government Initiatives and Funding Mechanisms, Infrastructure Bonds and Capital Markets, Risk Mitigation Strategies and Insurance Solutions, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Global Partnerships, Innovative Financing Models and Alternative Sources of Funding, Role of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs), Smart City Initiatives and Digital Financing Solutions, Socio-Economic Impact Assessment and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Future of Mobility - EVs Driving India

Mr. Abhijeet Sinha presented a compelling vision of India's push towards electric vehicles, paving the way for a dynamic panel discussion on financing major urban infrastructure projects. Agra-Delhi-Jaipur will be a 500 km e-mobility conversion program for National Highways and Express ways into E-Highways in just 90 days with charging stations and public transport fleets. This is aimed at converting traffic from 10% – 30% under the Ease of Doing Business programme. Interestingly, the entire E-Highway is equipped with geo-fencing and will be the first country to get the Anti-Theft System (ATS) for electric vehicle fleets.

Exploring Avenues in Railways & Urban Transport

New Business Avenues in Railways & Urban Transport Sectors

The discussion, guided by Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Mr. Nanduri Srinivas, Director (Operations & Business Development), Dedicated Freight Corridors Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL); Mr. Anil Jangid, Director, Leap Infraasys; Mr. Hukum Singh Chaudhary, Director (Rail Operations), EGIS India and moderated by Mr. Ashish Singh, Vice President (Business Development), KEC International Ltd, provided insights into technological integration, investment opportunities, and sustainable development in the sector.

The panelists have shared their insights on Current Infrastructure Assessment, Technological Integration, Investment Opportunities, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Sustainable Development, Enhancing Connectivity and Accessibility, Regulatory Framework and Policy Reforms, Safety and Security Measures, International Best Practices and Case Studies.

Unveiling Opportunities in Construction & Heavy Equipment Industry

New Business Avenues in Construction, EPC, and Heavy Equipment Industry

Key figures, including Mr. Rajesh Prasad, Director (Operations), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL); Prof. A. Sanjeeva Rao, National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Mr. Jugal Kishore Bhatti, Ex-AGM (Civil), RITES Ltd; Dr. Amita Singh, Head-Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), Systra India, and Mr. Aditya Khakse, Head-Central India, OfBusiness discussed market analysis, innovation, and global market expansion.

The key discussion points of this session included but not limited to Market Analysis and Growth Prospects, Innovation and Technology Adoption, EPC Projects and Opportunities, Sustainable Construction Practices, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Risk Management and Compliance, Infrastructure Development and Government Policies, Skilled Workforce and Training Programs, International Collaboration and Global Market Expansion, Adapting to Digital Transformation.

Importance of Multi-modal Transport System

Mr. Jugal Kishore Bhatti, Ex-Additional General Manager (Civil), RITES Limited has delivered an in-depth and very insightful presentation on why Multimodal Transport System is crucial for India to become a $5 Trillion Economy? At present roads are used to transport 70 per cent of the goods. It is necessary to adopt comprehensive methods to reduce it. There is a need to not rely solely on road transport but also water transport, railways and airports which need to be interlinked seamlessly.

Rolling into the Future - Rail Technology and Automation

New Business Avenues in Rolling Stock, Signalling & Automation Industry

Insights from Mr. Devendra Dutta Mishra, Executive Director (Rolling Stock), Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro), Mr. M. C. Chauhan, Mr. Mangal Dev, Head (Green Energy Mobility), Hitachi Rail & Director, Hitachi India and Mr. Harsh Dhingra, Corporate Consultant (Rail & Metro) delved into the current industry landscape, innovative technology, and global collaboration.

The panelists shared their invaluable insights on Current Industry Landscape and Trends, Innovation in Rolling Stock Technology, Next-Generation Signalling Systems, Automation and Digitalization in Rail Operations, Market Opportunities in Urban Rail Transit, Interoperability and Standardization Challenges, Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solutions, Cybersecurity and Data Protection, Public-Private Partnerships and Funding Models, Global Collaboration and Export Opportunities.

Culmination - Recognizing Excellence

Award Ceremony

The summit concluded with the prestigious Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards 2023, presented by Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, recognizing outstanding contributions to the urban infrastructure sector. A total of 30 winners were honored with trophy & certificates for their outstanding works in the urban infrastructure sectors including Railways, Metro, Transportation and City Infrastructure.

Vote of Thanks

Mr. Surya Shah expressed gratitude, acknowledging the collective efforts that made the summit a resounding success.

Conclusion

The 3rd Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2023 transcended expectations, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and recognition. The diverse discussions and visionary presentations have undoubtedly ignited ideas that will shape the future of urban infrastructure.

The date of the next edition i.e. 4th Edition of Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2023 has been announced and it will take place on 27th June 2024 in New Delhi, India.