Bhubaneswar: The 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference was inaugurated today in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, by Tokhan Sahu, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, in an enthusiastic atmosphere. The conference is being held on the central theme of “Urban Accessibility and Livability in the Digital Age.”
Odisha Housing, Urban Development and Public Policy Minister Dr Krishna 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 Padhee were among those specially present at the inaugural ceremony.
Digital innovation in urban mobility; dignitaries visit MahaMetro stall
During the conference, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu and Odisha Urban Development Minister Dr Krishna Chandra Mahapatra visited and inaugurated the MahaMetro stall. MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar welcomed both dignitaries and briefed them in detail about the initiatives displayed at the stall.
The exhibition showcased MahaMetro’s advanced systems, implemented to improve urban accessibility and mobility through digital innovation. These included:
- Digital Project Management Dashboard: Real-time control for faster and transparent project execution.
- O&M Digital Transformation: Effective use of modern digital systems in the daily operation and maintenance of the metro.
- Digital Eye & Mastermind: Integration of advanced technologies for security and precise monitoring.
- Seamless “One App” Journey: An integrated and convenient digital experience for passengers, from ticket booking through the entire journey.
- Smart & Connected Mobility: Integrated connectivity for seamless last-mile travel.
- Social Media Engagement: An effective digital medium for direct interaction with passengers and the rapid exchange of information.
The e-scoot was a special attraction at the stall. Tokhan Sahu and Dr Krishna Chandra Mahapatra personally rode it and praised MahaMetro’s environment-friendly, sustainable and digital initiative. The service, launched as a pilot project in Pune for first- and last-mile connectivity, has been receiving an excellent response from citizens.
Metro services operating in 26 cities, benefiting 1.25 crore passengers daily: Tokhan Sahu
Addressing the inauguration, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu outlined the rapid expansion of the metro network in the country. He said, “Metro services are successfully operating in 26 cities in India, and more than 1.25 crore citizens are travelling by metro every day.” He added that the integration of digital transport systems and modern technologies had made urban travel smoother and faster, leading to a significant improvement in citizens’ quality of life.
52 percent of citizens use two-wheelers: Secretary Satyendra Singh
Union Secretary Satyendra Singh shared details of an important survey related to the transport system. An extensive survey of transport arrangements in urban and rural areas across the country was conducted from July 2025 to January 2026. According to its findings, 52 percent of all passengers nationwide use two-wheelers.
He stressed that creating a safer, more convenient, modern and robust public transport system for this large group of two-wheeler users is a key requirement of the present time.
