UMI 2019: India proposes Rs 3-trillion metro rail projects for next five years

Lucknow (Urban Transport News): With the theme of 'Accessible and Liveable Cities', the 12th edition of Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo inaugurated by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, India today. Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Secretary for Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs Durga Shankar Mishra were present in the inaugural ceremony. The 3-day conference will provide an excellent platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences for peer learning and mutual benefits. The event is being hosted by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs in association with Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited. Metro rail networks stretching over 1,500 km, including regional rapid transit system (RRTS) projects, are being proposed to be laid over the next 5 years across various cities of the country. The proposed Rs 3-trillion expenditure on these projects comprised assistance from central and state government equity, apart from funding by other agencies.

12th Urban Mobility India Conference-cum-Exhibition program inaugurated by @myogiadityanath @HardeepSPuri at Indira Gandhi Pratisthan, Lucknow. It's a 3-day workshop that may be termed as an effort to make mobility easier by metro, road, air route.#UMI2019 pic.twitter.com/hAbv0q2EfW

— Urban Transport News ? (@urbantransnews) November 15, 2019

Sanjay Murthy, joint secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, said:

Over the past 5 years, metro projects totalling 877 km were put in the pipeline in 27 cities, of which 400 km have already been laid and the work on the remaining sections is underway.

Addressing the conference, Union Ministry for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, said:

I am happy to inform that to embark on the goal of liveability and to enhance accessibility and mobility, a number of cities are extensively working on initiatives such as the complete or smart street projects, high-quality footpaths, segregated cycle tracks, safe pedestrian crossing, and regulated on-street parking.

He said that the Government of India had promogulated the Metro Rail policy, 2017 for induction of mass transit transport system or metros, which are not only improving the overall livability of our cities but has provided a truly reliable and accessible transit medium for the vulnerable sections of the society. Secretary for Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Durga Shankar Mishra, said:

The theme ‘Accessible & Liveable Cities’ is pertinent to the country’s requirement & this conference will provide a great platform for stakeholders, cities to deliberate on contemporary mobility issues associated with universal accessibility & enhancing liveability.

Urbanisation is one of the most basic characteristics of economic development & with a population of about 135 crores, urbanisation in India is taking place at a faster rate & is countering hindrances especially associated with the mobility needs of the citizens. "It is absolutely essential to providing universal access to all, especially for the 2.21% population with special needs. We need to ensure an accessible urban transport environment, which should complement the equally livable ecosystem", said Mishra. In the Urban Transport sector, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has formulated the Metro Rail Policy 2017, TOD Policy 2017, MetroLite and launched the National Common Mobility Card. These efforts and initiatives are directed towards fostering transformative public policies into actions. The Government of India in its bid to provide low carbon, sustainable public transport, and non-motorised mobility solutions has recently entered into a joint understanding with the Federal Republic of Germany to tap its long-standing experience in developing integrated, inclusive and environmentally friendly mobility solutions. Over 1000 delegated are expected to participate in the 3-day conference-cum-exhibition.