Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Friday said transport systems similar to the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will be developed in other major cities apart from Delhi.
He was speaking at the 18th edition of the Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2025.
Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the exhibition at the Urban Mobility India Conference 2025 and took a ride in a retrofitted Electric Auto, converted from CNG. The initiative highlights India’s innovation in sustainable and inclusive urban transport.
Inaugurating the conference, which was held in Gurugram, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister said,” Transport systems similar to the RRTS will be developed in other major cities.”
Manohar Lal extended greetings on the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, and lauded the contribution of the UMI conference in shaping India’s mobility ecosystem.
In his inaugural address, the Union Minister highlighted that with nearly 1,100 km of operational metro network, India has become the third-largest metro network in the world, soon to attain the second position.
Referring to the PM e-Bus Sewa, the Minister announced the deployment of 10,000 electric buses across smaller cities, with 100 e-buses earmarked for Gurugram.
The Union Minister further underlined that last-mile connectivity remains a critical challenge to improving metro ridership and assured that the Ministry will work closely with states to implement effective measures in this regard.
Manohar Lal also said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), through its subsidiary — Delhi Metro International Limited (DMIL) — will act as the nodal agency on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for executing consultancy, construction, turnkey projects, management services, and operation and maintenance-related projects in India and abroad.
He also informed that it has also been decided that DMRC, through another of its subsidiaries, will act as the nodal organisation to support MoHUA in the planning, coordination, and management of Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) across the country.
On the occasion, Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, said mobility is not merely a mode of transport but a driver of socio-economic growth. He emphasised that initiatives such as Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) are transforming urban mobility and enhancing commuter experience across India.
Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, MoHUA, in his remarks, stressed the importance of integrated urban development and mobility planning to enhance the liveability and sustainability of Indian cities.
The 2025 edition focuses on the theme ‘Urban Development and Mobility Nexus’, highlighting the interlinkages between urban planning and mobility systems, and their collective impact on economic growth, environmental sustainability, social equity, and public health.
The three-day event is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, and the Government of Haryana, through the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL).