19th Urban Mobility India conference opens in Bhubaneswar; Maha Metro stall draws attention

The 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) conference was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, today by Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu. This year's main theme is "Urban Accessibility and Livability in the Digital Age".

Odisha's Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Policy Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Secretary Satyendra Singh, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Housing and Urban Development Department Principal Secretary Usha Padhi were among those present at the inauguration.

During the conference, Sahu and Mahapatra visited and inaugurated the Maha Metro stall. Maha Metro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar welcomed both guests and gave them detailed information on the initiatives displayed at the stall.

The exhibition showcased advanced systems introduced by Maha Metro to make travel in cities easier and faster through digital innovation. Six items were mainly featured. The first was a Digital Project Management Dashboard, which provides real-time control so that projects are completed quickly and transparently. The second was O&M Digital Transformation, which brings modern digital systems into the daily operation and maintenance of the metro.

The third was Digital Eye and Mastermind, which combines advanced technology for security and precise monitoring. The fourth was a Seamless "One App" Journey, which gives passengers a single, simple digital experience from booking a ticket to completing the journey. The fifth was Smart and Connected Mobility, which offers integrated connectivity for hassle-free travel up to the last mile. The sixth was Social Media Engagement, an effective digital channel for direct communication with passengers and for exchanging urgent information.

The biggest attraction at the stall was the e-scoot. Sahu and Mahapatra rode it themselves and warmly praised this eco-friendly, sustainable and digital initiative of Maha Metro. The service, started as a pilot project in Pune for first and last mile connectivity, is receiving a good response from citizens.

In his inaugural speech, Sahu spoke about the rapid expansion of the metro network in the country. "Metro services are running successfully in 26 cities in India, and more than 1.25 crore citizens travel by metro every day," he said. He also said that the combination of digital transport systems and modern technology has made travel in cities easier and faster, and has brought a significant improvement in citizens' quality of life.

Union Secretary Satyendra Singh spoke about an important survey on transport. A detailed survey of transport in urban and rural areas of the country was carried out between July 2025 and January 2026. According to its findings, 52 per cent of all travellers across the country use two-wheelers. He underlined that building a safer, more convenient, modern and robust public transport system for this large group of two-wheeler riders is the main need of the day.