Sonal Shah honored as "Urban Infra Sustainable Mobility Promotor of the Year" at 4th Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards 2024

New Delhi, India (October 17, 2024): Ms. Sonal Shah, Founder of The Urban Catalysts and Executive Director of the Centre for Sustainable and Equitable Cities, was awarded the title of "Urban Infra Sustainable Mobility Promotor of the Year" on October 16, 2024. This prestigious recognition was presented during the 4th Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards ceremony, held at the Hyatt Centric in New Delhi as part of the 4th Urban Infra Business Summit & RailTrans Expo 2024, which took place from October 15 - 16, 2024.

The award was conferred by Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Ministry of Railways, in the presence of prominent leaders from government departments, central public sector undertakings, and the private sector.

Ms. Shah is a leading advocate for transforming urban spaces and transportation systems to address climate change while promoting gender equity and universal access. Her work has significantly influenced urban transport projects by integrating a gender perspective, resulting in investments exceeding $9 billion that are projected to benefit 500,000 women and girls by 2027. She played a pivotal role in introducing gender-responsive guidelines into India's Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines, marking a first for the country, and was a key contributor to the urban street design guidelines for the Indian Roads Congress from 2016 to 2018.

Her expertise has led her to spearhead projects funded by notable organizations such as the FCDO, ADB, AfD, Bloomberg Philanthropies, GIZ, UN-Habitat, and the World Bank, working across ten states in India as well as in regions of South and Central Asia, East Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. Ms. Shah has also advised feminist organizations like Jagori and Azad Foundation on action-oriented research, served as a juror for the Fulbright Scholarship, mentored Asia Foundation LeadNext Fellows, and contributed to the Main Bhi Dilli Campaign.

In recognition of her impactful work, Ms. Shah was featured in the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative's networks of Remarkable Women in Transport in 2020 and Remarkable Feminist Voices in Transport in 2023. The Urban Catalysts was also acknowledged as a Remarkable Feminist Organization in Transport in 2023. Additionally, she serves on the alumni board of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University and is part of the 2024 global cohort of the Vital Voices Visionaries Fellowship.

The Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards are held annually by the Urban Infra Group in collaboration with leading industries and media houses to honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to infrastructure development in India. This year’s event underscored the importance of innovation and sustainability in urban projects.

The next edition of the Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards is scheduled for June 26, 2025, in New Delhi, continuing the tradition of recognizing excellence in the urban infrastructure sector. Ms. Sonal Shah’s award reflects her exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing sustainable mobility and gender equity in urban planning.