Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], October 25 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday inaugurated the 17th Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo 2024 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
CM Patel while addressing the event said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has improved the Ease of Living for citizens by fostering sustainable urban development. He noted that cities are now adopting an urban well-being approach, featuring world-class infrastructure and efficient last-mile connectivity to enhance urban mobility.
This three-day conference is organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The conference brings together senior officials from the Urban Development Ministry, state departments, urban transport and mobility experts, and representatives from organizations nationwide, as per an official statement.
CM Patel expressed confidence that the conference would facilitate valuable exchanges on development models and initiatives in the urban mobility sector, as guided by the PM Modi. India’s emergence as the fifth-largest global economy today reflects its social, economic, and industrial progress, as well as urbanization over the past decade.
Gujarat, in particular, has achieved significant milestones in urban development and transport under Narendra Modi’s leadership over the last 23 years, he noted.
CM further highlighted that PM Modi has driven continuous urban progress through substantial budget allocations, with the urban development budget expanding from Rs 750 crore in 2001-02 to over Rs 21,700 crore today. CM Patel credited PM Modi, for pioneering visionary projects like the Shaheri Vikas Varsh (Urban Development Year), Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, and the iconic Sabarmati Riverfront, during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister.
The CM highlighted that PM Modi’s innovative introduction of BRTS in Ahmedabad’s public transport has been transformative, saving commuters time, reducing stress, and conserving fuel by decreasing reliance on personal vehicles.
He noted that BRTS has become a fast and dependable transport option in other metros across the state, while the metro system has become a vital mode of safe, accessible travel for many. CM Patel emphasized the Prime Minister’s commitment to environmentally sustainable development with the vision of making India a net-zero carbon country by 2070. Aligning with this vision, Gujarat has implemented multiple initiatives for clean and green urban mobility.
CM Patel shared that the use of electric and CNG buses in public transportation has been expanded under the Mukhyamantri Shaheri Bus Parivahan Yojana (Chief Minister’s Urban Bus Transport Scheme).
He added that PM Modi has furthered sustainable development by launching the PM eBus Sewa Scheme based on the PPP model, paving the way for a greener future in urban mobility across the nation. At the conference inauguration, the Chief Minister conveyed confidence that the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 will be realized through Clean, Safe Urban Mobility.
Transport Minister Harsh Sanghvi remarked that this national-level conference and expo on urban mobility will enable states, including Gujarat, to benefit from shared best practices. He added that the conference would chart a new course for the future of public transportation in India and Gujarat. Under the leadership of CM Patel, 1,068 CNG and 382 electric buses have been introduced to provide clean, efficient, and safe public transportation across Gujarat. An additional 1,768 CNG and EV buses are planned for the near future.
The Minister also highlighted that Gujarat’s transport system is maximizing the use of IT, AI, digital technology, smart cards, and data analysis to deliver safe and secure transportation services to its citizens. Harsh Sanghvi noted that under the leadership of PM Modi, metro rail networks are being developed across the country, including in Gujarat. Ahmedabad Metro now serves around one lakh passengers daily, while Gandhinagar Metro accommodates approximately 30,000 passengers. In Ahmedabad, an End-to-End Connectivity service has been introduced for BRTS and Metro travellers. He also congratulated department officials for their efforts toward the upcoming launch of India’s first bullet train in Gujarat.
Chief Secretary Raj Kumar stated that inspired by PM Modi, the Central Government has made special plans for city modernization. With the world’s largest urban population, India sees millions migrating from villages to cities each year, adding to urban growth. Urban areas alone contribute about 70 per cent of the country’s GDP, but rising urbanization has led to challenges such as pollution and public transport demands. In response, the Central Government is developing a range of public transport services, including rail, bus, and metro systems, to reduce pollution and lessen the impact of vehicle emissions on global warming.
Welcoming everyone to the 17th Urban Mobility India Conference, K Srinivas, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, stated that the conference is organized around the theme of ‘Standardization and Optimization’ of urban transport solutions. He conveyed pride in Gujarat hosting this conference again after 2016, following its inception in 2008. Over the next three days, various seminars will focus on enhancing urban transport facilities. He noted that more than 15,000 delegates from across the country, including senior central and state officials, experts, and industry representatives, will be participating.
Ashwini Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Urban Housing and Urban Development in Gujarat, delivered the vote of thanks. Jaideep, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India; S.S. Rathore, Managing Director of Gujarat Metro; Municipal Commissioners; Officials and employees of the urban department; Delegates from various states; Managing directors from several companies were also present. (ANI)
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