Ahmedabad: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 17th Urban Mobility India Conference at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Friday. This three-day event, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, gathers senior officials from the Urban Development Ministry, state departments, and urban transport experts, along with representatives from organizations across the country.

In his address, the Chief Minister underscored India’s urban well-being approach, which prioritizes world-class infrastructure and efficient last-mile connectivity to enhance urban mobility. He noted that the conference aims to facilitate discussions on development models and strategies in urban mobility. Patel highlighted the growth of the urban development budget, which has risen from Rs 750 crore in 2001-02 to over Rs 21,700 crore.

He also discussed Ahmedabad’s Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), which has improved public transport by reducing travel time and commuter stress while conserving fuel through reduced dependence on personal vehicles. Additionally, Patel emphasized the importance of the metro as a vital, accessible, and safe travel option.