The 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference 2026 commenced in Bhubaneswar on 23 October, with Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu inaugurating the two-day event at Hotel Mayfair Sanctuary. Organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), the conference runs through 24 October with the support of the Odisha Government.

Who Attended and What Was Discussed

The inaugural session brought together Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and senior officials from MoHUA and the Odisha H&UD Department. National and international experts, policymakers, representatives of Metro Rail companies, transport undertakings, industry professionals, and academicians also participated in the proceedings.

This year's theme — 'Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age' — set the tone for deliberations covering sustainable and low-carbon public transport, seamless multimodal integration, first- and last-mile connectivity, traffic congestion reduction, and the use of digital technologies to build more accessible and inclusive cities.

Key Remarks by Union Minister Tokhan Sahu

Addressing the gathering, Minister Sahu described the UMI Conference as 'an important national platform for shaping the future of urban transport.' On the conference theme, he said, 'true progress in urban development should be measured by how safely, comfortably and independently citizens, including women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, can travel within cities.'

Sahu highlighted a significant expansion of India's operational metro network — from 248 km in 2014 to over 1,185 km across 26 cities — with an additional 998 km currently under construction. He pointed to initiatives such as the National Common Mobility Card, QR-based ticketing, and PM e-Bus Sewa as examples of how public transport is being made more accessible and sustainable.

Appreciating Odisha's efforts, Sahu cited the state's Ama Bus/Mo Bus services as a model of modern, technology-enabled public transport. He linked efficient and inclusive urban mobility directly to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Exhibition and Technical Sessions

An accompanying exhibition showcasing best practices in urban transport from India and abroad was also inaugurated on the first day. A total of 28 exhibitors — including representatives from the Odisha Government, Metro Rail companies, public sector organisations, and private sector entities — are participating in the exhibition.

The first day's programme featured a Conclave Session, a Technical Session, three Round Table discussions, and a Special Session on comprehensive regional mobility planning. Key themes included the role of digital technology, data governance, institutional reforms, and sustainable transport systems in improving urban accessibility and liveability.

Background and Significance

The UMI Conference is an annual MoHUA initiative under the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006, designed to serve as a national platform for sharing best practices, emerging technologies, and innovative solutions in urban mobility. The 2026 edition marks the 19th instalment of the conference, reflecting over two decades of structured policy dialogue on India's urban transport challenges.

This comes amid rapid urbanisation across Indian cities, with metro networks expanding at an unprecedented pace and the Centre pushing digital-first mobility solutions. The conference's outcomes are expected to inform upcoming policy revisions and urban mobility project designs across states.