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Union Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs, and Power Manohar Lal Khattar announced that metro services are being expanded across India to reduce traffic congestion in major cities. He stated that a separate licence for last-mile connectivity will no longer be needed, as it will now be merged
with the metro service licence for smoother coordination.
Urban Mobility India Conference in Gurugram
Khattar made this announcement during the valedictory session of the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference held in Gurugram on Sunday. He highlighted the importance of promoting sustainable and eco-friendly transport, particularly by encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs). The minister mentioned that India has a surplus power supply, which will help in setting up enough charging stations. He also said that the government is exploring supercharger technology to make charging faster and more efficient.
He further underlined the importance of digital payment systems in public transport. Khattar stressed that National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) and QR code-based ticketing systems should be widely adopted to make travel more convenient and to connect different modes of transport easily.
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Khare, Managing Director of GMRL, said the three-day conference focused on the future of urban mobility policies and the need for innovation. He added that the discussions and ideas shared during the event would help state governments and local bodies improve their cities' transport systems.
During the event, Khattar also presented awards to top-performing organisations. Chennai's Metropolitan Transport Corporation Limited won the award for the "Best Public Transport System", while Hubballi-Dharwad BRTS received a commendation. Udaipur Smart City Limited won for the Best Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) initiative, and Thrissur Mission Management got a special mention.
Khattar also launched the logo and website of the PM e-Bus Service and announced that the next UMI Conference will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from October 23-25, 2026, with the theme "Urban Accessibility and Livability in the Digital Age."
