Nagpur: The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurate 11th Urban Mobility India 2018 conference and expo at Nagpur. Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, Dr Martin Ney, Ambassador of Germany to India were present.
This 3 day Conference and Expo were organized by Urban Development dept, GoI, Housing Dept, and Maha Metro at Nagpur. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule was also present on this occasion. CM spoke on issues arising from growing population and urbanization.
Vehicles are giving the biggest contribution to increasing pollution levels and the solution is cheaper, easier public transport system with end to end integration; CM said
Our Government is working a lot in this direction. In Mumbai, we are making available all means of transport and bringing everything on the single integrated ticketing system, on fingertips.
In the modern era we need to use technology to its fullest, he added.
Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, delivered the inaugural address. He pointed out that just like waterways were lifelines of ancient civilizations, mobility and urbanization are two factors on which urban habitation depends. Mobility is a prime concern that will define how Indian cities would be shaped and how living standards would be enhanced”.
“Mobility requires end-to-end solutions and it should be reliable”, stressed Fadnavis. He also added that transportation systems should be comprehensive but with the integration of different systems and with a special focus on sustainability.
Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transportation, delivered the keynote address and discussed the undergoing Nagpur Metro project and the emphasis on electric bikes and scooters that can operate as taxis.
At the inaugural session, Alexander Ziegler, Ambassador of France, said that “Sustainable development is a key priority area as more than 80% of greenhouse gas emission is due to exploding population in cities. And transport is intrinsically linked to it”.
Undoubtedly, the need of the hour is safer, cleaner and greener transportation. India stands of great disruption in smart mobility. Smart cities mission of Indian government too would provide impetus to green urban mobility. French companies are looking to cooperate with India in the sector of urban mobility, added ambassador Ziegler.
With rapid urbanization, Indian cities would be the fulcrum of economic activities and drive changes.
Martin Nay, Ambassador of Germany, said that “Since the 1950s number of motor vehicles has increased by millions and it would increase further. This needs immediate attention as the increase in the number of cars on the roads would lead to many problems like congestion, cramped city spaces and increase in pollution”.
Investment in green mobility is about improving the living conditions of the citizens of a city as well as making the infrastructure environmentally sustainable.
“The battle for sustainability will be either won or lost in the cities,” said Ban Ki Moon last year. And this succinctly expresses the current predicament we face when it comes to urban mobility.
Hardeep Singh Puri said that Nagpur was the first city in India to launch e taxis and hydrogen-fueled buses, so it is the perfect location for Urban Mobility.
“By 2030, it is expected that 600 million Indians will reside in cities and preparing for that makes urban mobility an imperative”, he added.
There has been a growth of 400% in motor vehicle registration in 1991 and 2001. Looking at these figures, we have to figure out innovative ways and look at methods of mixing biofuels like ethanol in petrol, on the lines of Brazil.
The face of urban mobility is changing at a rapid pace and the world is noticing it, but we need to keep pace with the evolution of new technologies, develop new workflows and integrate the best methods keeping in mind the present generation as well as the aspirations of the posterity.
The conference is structured into three plenary sessions dealing with future of mobility, challenges in implementing electric mobility, innovations and challenges in metro rail system and nine technical sessions concentrating on broad theme of public transport, inclusive mobility, electric mobility, low carbon mobility, digital technology, and freight and environment will be discussed in the summit. Around 1,000 delegates, including 150 delegates from across the world, comprising senior officials from Central and State Governments will participate in the event.
Sinha said, the conference will provide an excellent opportunity to share and disseminate best transport technology and will be a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge for benefit of urban professionals.
Replying to a query, Sinha said, the share of public transport, as well as cycling and walking, are declining while the share of personalized vehicles, both cars and two-wheelers are increasing. This conference will help officials to keep up to date knowledge of best practices in urban transport. Anil Kokate, General Manager of Maha Metro also was present.
