Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 27: The Srinagar and Jammu Smart City Limited were today awarded for excellence in urban transport and innovative financing at the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) conference held at Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
Srinagar Smart City Ltd received the award in the “City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System” category, while Jammu Smart City Ltd was recognized in the “City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism” category.
Dr. Owais Ahmed, CEO of Srinagar Smart City Ltd, accepted the award for Srinagar, and Devansh Yadav, CEO of Jammu Smart City Ltd, accepted the award for Jammu during the ceremony.
The event was presided over by the Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal.
The awards were presented during the valedictory session of the three-day 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024.
Officials from Srinagar Smart City Ltd highlighted that the award celebrates their efforts in creating a sustainable environment that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists in Srinagar City.
Dr. Owais stated, “This award underscores SSCL’s successful initiatives, which include the significant upgrade of 100 kilometers of key roadways to include dedicated paths for walking and cycling, enhanced lighting, and improved public amenities.”
He noted that these developments support both local tourism and economic growth within Srinagar City.
Notably, SSCL has launched a Public Bicycle System with 1,000 bicycles and 200 electric bikes across 180 stations to further eco-friendly transport.
Major roads such as Maulana Azad Road and Residency Road have been revitalized, along with public spaces like Srinagar Square (Lal Chowk) and the Jhelum Riverfront, which now feature plazas, cafes, and promenades.
Jammu Smart City Ltd celebrated its achievement on ‘X’, posting: “Big win for #Jammu! Jammu’s e-autos & e-rickshaws by #JammuSmartCity bag the Award of Excellence in Urban Transport at #UMI2024 in Gandhinagar! Led by CEO @Devansh_IAS, this eco-friendly move boosts jobs & cuts pollution.”
The UMI awards recognize achievements in various urban transport categories. As per officials, awards are given for “Excellence/best practice projects in Urban Transport” across 12 categories, while the winners are recommended by the Awards Selection Committee, which includes high-level Government officers and field experts.
The categories include “City with the Most Sustainable Transport System,” “City with the Best Public Transport System,” “City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System,” “City with Best Safety and Security System & Record,” “City with the Best Intelligent Transport System (ITS),” “City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism,” and others.
Additionally, there is a running trophy for the state/UT that implemented the best urban transport projects in the previous year.
Pertinent to mention here, the 17th UMI Conference & Exhibition 2024 was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), with support from the Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
The exhibition, showcasing best practices in urban transport from India and abroad, attracted over 2,200 delegates, including more than 50 international participants. This year, the conference focused on the theme “Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions,” emphasizing the harmonization of standards to optimize urban mobility, particularly in the Indian context.
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