Urban Infra 2024: Day 1 Post-Event Report
The Day 1 of the 4th Urban Infra Business Summit & RailTrans Expo 2024 was commenced with the inaugural session, followed by an event briefing by Ms. Ana Imtiyaz. Smt. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, welcomed the distinguished chief guest, Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, along with other notable dignitaries, including Shri Anil Kumar Khandelwal, Former Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways; Shri I. Jeyakumar, Secretary, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority; Shri Ajay Kumar Lal, Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer (Retd.), Ministry of Railways; Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Former Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways and Shri Rajeev Kumar Jain, Former Director General, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Govt. of India.
The session proceeded with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony, featuring the chief guest and other dignitaries, including Dr. Surabhi Singh, Professor, GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research (GLBIMR), Mr. Artem Batalov, Head of Corporate & Financial Institutions Department, SBER Bank and Smt. Mamta Shah. Following this, the National Anthem was played, and a heartfelt tribute was paid to the late Sir Ratan Tata, recognizing his profound contributions to business and society.
Dr. Richa Chowdhary, Professor, University of Delhi delivered a welcome note, setting the stage for the next session, which focused on the keynote address titled "Viksit Bharat 2047 – The Constructive Role of Railways, Transportation & Urban Infrastructure in Shaping India." Shri Anil Kumar Khandelwal provided opening remarks, leading into keynotes from Prof. Manoj Choudhary and other eminent speakers, including Shri I. Jeyakumar, Shri Ajay Kumar Lal, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, and Shri Rajeev Kumar Jain. The session concluded with a tea and networking break, allowing attendees to engage and share insights.
The next segment featured presentations addressing critical topics. Mr. Aditya Khakse, Lead Business, TuTr Hyperloop (IIT Madras) discussed the role of Hyperloop transportation in India's future, followed by Mr. Artem Batalov’s insights on payments with Russian companies. Dr. Surabhi Singh presented innovative marketing strategies for the urban infrastructure sector.
Continuing the theme of development, Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, Program Director, Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) & National Project Director, National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) shared insights on the role of National Highways for Electric Vehicles in the National Master Plan. Dr. Namrita Kalsi elaborated on the contributions of the rail and metro sectors to India's development. A technical panel discussion on financing major urban infrastructure projects featured distinguished panelists such as Ms. Vinita Srivastava, Mr. Ajay Lal, Dr. Namrita Kalsi and Mr. Karan Sethi, with Mr. Ashish Saini moderating the session.
After lunch and a stall visit, the presentations resumed with Dr. Amudhan Valavan, Global Public Transport Expert & Independent Direcor, Metropolitan Transport Corporation Chennai addressing the impact of government subsidies on public transport. Mr. Anil Thaman, Co-Founder, National Enviro Tech Solutions (NETS) showcased sustainable cooling solutions, while Mr. Vikram Shinde, Senior, Deputy Project Director, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) highlighted the need for innovative testing facilities for railways and metro sectors.
The day 1 concluded with a panel discussion on the role of government, innovators, and private players in smart rail and transport infrastructure. This session featured experts like Ms. Mona Srivastava, Chief Engineer, Northern Railways and Mr. Kishore Nathani, MD & CEO, Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) and was moderated by Mr. Jugal Kishor Bhatti, Ex-AGM, RITES Ltd. The event wrapped up with another opportunity for networking over tea. Overall, Day 1 of Urban Infra 2024 successfully brought together key stakeholders to discuss and explore innovative solutions for urban infrastructure development in India.
Urban Infra 2024: Day 2 Post-Event Report
Day 2 of Urban Infra 2024 began with visitor registration, setting the stage for a series of engaging sessions focused on the future of rail and urban infrastructure. The first session featured a presentation by Dr. T.S. Ramakrishanan, a Senior Consultant and Researcher in Transport, who shared insights on managerial learnings from rail pioneer countries aimed at developing indigenous rolling stock technology for conventional and high-speed rail systems.
The subsequent panel discussion addressed the opportunities for domestic and global players in rolling stock, signaling, and allied systems. Distinguished panelists included Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Shri Rahul Gosain, Chief Administrative Officer (IT), Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala, Ministry of Railways; Shri Devendra Dutta Mishra, General Consultant, Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar Metro Rail Projects; Mr. Ranit Rana, Senior Vice President (Business Development), Jindal Stainless Ltd and was moderated by Mr. Ashish Arora, Subject Matter Expert.
A brief tea break followed, providing attendees with an opportunity for informal networking before the next session, which focused on the interface between industry and academia. Prof. Kunal K. Ganguly from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur discussed the critical need for collaboration in the railway sector.
The following panel discussion explored new innovations and technological developments in railways and transportation. Participants included Prof. Kunal K. Ganguly; Mr. Surinder Suri, Former General Manager, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala; Mohd. Tanveer Khan, Joint Director (Gati Shakti), Ministry of Railways; and and was moderated by Mr. Harsh Dhingra, Senior Consultant, Rail & Metro sectors.
Mr. Sushil Kumar, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC), delivered a presentation on achieving sustainable goals through innovations in technology, followed by a panel discussion on safety and security in railways and public transportation. This discussion featured experts such as Mr. Keshav Chandra, Former Member, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways; Mr. Gulzar Miglani, Managing Director, Vossoloh; Mr. Harshkumar Bajpeyee, Managing Director, Schwihag India; Mr. Jugal Kishor Bhatti, and Mrs. Anindita Mukerjee Sinha, who moderated the session.
After a lunch break and stall visits, the event transitioned to the highly anticipated award ceremony. Chief Guest Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, was welcomed with a floral bouquet by Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group. The ceremony included the announcement of award winners across various categories, recognizing outstanding contributions in urban infrastructure and railways. A total of 25 Winners were presented their awards and mementos, including Mr. Sushil Kumar as Urban Infra Metro Man of the Year and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited for Most Accomplished Urban Infra Rail Business Leader of the Year. The full list of winners can be viewed here.
The day concluded with feedback from key awardees, expressing their gratitude and sharing insights from their experiences. Mr. Surya Shah delivered a vote of thanks, recognizing the efforts of all participants, followed by a closing tea session that allowed attendees to reflect on the day's discussions and build connections. Overall, Day 2 of Urban Infra 2024 was a resounding success, highlighting the pivotal role of innovation and collaboration in the future of urban infrastructure in India.