Union Minister Manohar Lal unveils vision for Integrated Urban Transport at UMI 2025 in Gurugram

Gurugram, India (Metro Rail Today): The 18th edition of the Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025 — the country’s premier event on sustainable and inclusive urban transport — was inaugurated today by Shri Manohar Lal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, at Gurugram, Haryana.

Organized jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Government of Haryana, in association with the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL), the three-day event is themed “Urban Development and Mobility Nexus.”

The theme underscores the critical interlinkages between urban planning and mobility systems and their collective impact on economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social well-being.

Leaders Chart India’s Urban Mobility Future

The inaugural session was graced by Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs; Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, MoHUA; Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport), Government of Haryana; and Dr. Chander Shekhar Khare, Managing Director, GMRL.

More than 1,600 delegates, including senior officials from central and state governments, managing directors of metro rail corporations, international mobility experts, and researchers from academic institutions, are participating in the 2025 edition.

In his keynote address, Shri Manohar Lal lauded the transformative journey of India’s metro systems, noting that India now operates over 1,100 km of metro network, making it the third-largest in the world — soon to surpass to the second position globally.

“Metro rail and modern transport systems are not just about mobility; they are engines of urban transformation,” he said, announcing the deployment of 10,000 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa, with 100 e-buses allocated for Gurugram.

Delhi Metro International Limited to Be MoHUA’s Nodal Arm

A major announcement at the UMI 2025 conference was that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), through its subsidiary Delhi Metro International Limited (DMIL), will serve as the nodal agency for executing consultancy, turnkey construction, and O&M projects both in India and abroad on behalf of MoHUA.

Additionally, another DMRC subsidiary will coordinate and manage Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) across the country, ensuring uniform standards and technical excellence in upcoming urban transport systems.

“Transport systems similar to the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will be developed in other major Indian cities,” Shri Manohar Lal added, signaling India’s growing focus on regional connectivity and high-speed commuter solutions.

Policy, Innovation, and Sustainability in Focus

Addressing the gathering, Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, described mobility as a catalyst for socio-economic progress, emphasizing that programs such as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) are revolutionizing the urban commuting experience.

Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, MoHUA, called for a more integrated approach to urban development and mobility planning, aligning infrastructure expansion with sustainability goals.

The conference agenda features plenary sessions, policy dialogues, and technical workshops on innovations in public transport, electric mobility, intelligent transport systems (ITS), and data-driven planning.

Green Mobility Showcase

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal also inaugurated the Urban Mobility India Exhibition 2025, which features cutting-edge technologies and solutions from India’s leading metro rail, electric vehicle, and transport infrastructure companies.

He also took a ride in a retrofitted electric auto, converted from a CNG model — a symbolic step toward India’s vision of clean, inclusive, and sustainable last-mile connectivity.

“The Urban Mobility India 2025 platform reaffirms India’s leadership in advancing integrated, sustainable, and tech-driven mobility solutions,” said Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group. “From metro expansion to e-bus rollouts and intelligent transport systems, India’s urban mobility transition is setting a global example of innovation aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.”

With a strong emphasis on policy alignment, innovation, and inclusivity, the Urban Mobility India Conference 2025 serves as a pivotal platform to accelerate India’s smart mobility roadmap, bringing together policymakers, technology leaders, and industry experts to co-create the future of urban transport.