Bhubaneswar, a vibrant and growing city, has earned the prestigious title of ‘City with the Best Public Transport System’ at the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition held at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Meanwhile, Srinagar received accolades as the ‘City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System,’ emphasizing the city’s dedication to sustainable, pedestrian-friendly urban spaces.

This marks the sixth time an Odisha government initiative, led by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), has earned national recognition as one of the top urban mobility programs. Previously, CRUT also received the Urban Mobility Award for Bhubaneswar in the ‘City with the Best Public Transport System’ category.

CRUT is a public transit agency committed to providing sustainable mobility options to the residents and visitors of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Pipili, Puri, Konark, Rourkela, Sambalpur & Berhampur.

According to CRUT officials, Mo Bus has become an essential service for residents in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Sambalpur due to its customer-focused approach. The updated Mo Bus app has further improved convenience through enhanced digital ticketing features.

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal, addressed the gathering, celebrating India’s progress in urban mobility under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted India’s ascent as the third-largest country in terms of operational rail networks, with an Indian metro network soon to become the world’s second-largest. In line with this growth, the Prime Minister’s ‘One Nation One Card’ initiative, the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), is already in place across several metro systems nationwide.

Recognizing Urban Mobility Champions

The UMI awards, presented in 12 distinct categories, celebrate excellence across various facets of urban transportation, including sustainability, safety, public involvement, and innovative financing. This year’s selection committee, composed of top government officials and experts, recognized cities for their contributions to enhancing urban transport ecosystems:

• Most Sustainable Transport System: Kochi, awarded to Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
• Best Public Transport System: Bhubaneswar, is acknowledged for its Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT).
• Best Non-Motorized Transport System: Srinagar, celebrated for its pedestrian-centric development by Srinagar Smart City Ltd.
• Best Safety and Security Record: Gandhinagar, managed by Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.
• Best Intelligent Transport System (ITS): Surat, implemented by Surat Municipal Corporation.

The conference, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and with support from the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., attracted over 2,200 delegates, including 50 international participants. The exhibition showcased cutting-edge technologies, attracting major industry players from Germany, France, and Spain, alongside 67 Indian exhibitors.

2024 Theme: “Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions”

This year’s theme centred on establishing standards for optimizing urban mobility, with sessions discussing critical themes such as big data applications in transport planning, digital infrastructure, and clean air initiatives. In addition, discussions on urban freight solutions, financing in light of India’s ‘Make in India’ policy, and the growing electric bus ecosystem highlighted India’s shift towards sustainable urban transport.

Union Minister Manohar Lal also announced that the 18th edition of UMI will take place in Gurugram, Haryana, in 2025, setting the stage for further innovations and collaborations to reshape India’s urban mobility landscape.