On the first day of the 10th Urban Mobility India conference and CODATU-XVII conference held here on Saturday, bureaucrats and investors said that sustainable transport system would be a priority in the France-India bilateral ties.
The meet, which had 125 foreign delegates from 25 countries, is expected to strengthen existing areas of collaboration between the global South and the global North when it came to urban transport infrastructure and urban planning.
Delivering the key note address, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice-President of the country pointed out that India lacked affordable and accessible public transport system. “While private motorisation cannot be wished away completely, providing an affordable, comfortable, reliable and safe public transport can reduce the demand of private motorised vehicles. High capacity public transport systems....provide inclusive access to low income groups,” he said. Mr. Naidu asked India to move towards non-motorised, eco-friendly transport system like pedestrian pathways and cycle tracks. French delegates who were present at the meet also pledged their commitment to lasting development goals.
Supporting the cause of sustainable development, Mr. Naidu said urban planning should reduce the need for travel and the length of travel.
“Future of transportation lies in sustainable smart mobility...The planners, city authorities and civil society have to join the mission to make our cities a better place to live in,” said Mr. Naidu, who before assuming the office had served as the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Development. Also present at the meet was Hardeep Singh Puri, current Union Minister for Housing and Urban Development, who added, “Mobility which does not create space for pedestrians, cyclists and vendors will not help towards sustainable expansion of cities”.
Alexander Aziegler French Ambassadar to India said urban transport is the key to urban climate policy of both the countries. “Collaboration to invest and innovate in urban transport is very much on cards. French companies have invested and will continue to invest towards ‘Make in India’. Our mutual aim will be to develop a bilateral agenda in the next few days to tackle common transport problems,” said Mr. Aziegler. CODATU, an international non-profit network which works for international cooperation in the field of urban development and planning pledged to felicitate French-Indian ties. “This is the new age of mobility, the fifth age of mobility and people should not be relegated to areas from where they cannot transit,” said Dominique Bussereau, President of CODATU.
The three day meet will conclude on November 6.
