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Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Shri Manohar Lal, chaired a session on “Strengthening Urban Transport” at the 17th Civil Services Day in New Delhi. Addressing young civil servants, the Hon’ble Minister encouraged them to think innovatively and adopt out-of-the-box approaches to tackle critical challenges like urban transportation.

He emphasized the importance of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), urging officers to ensure that every commuter stepping off a metro train or public bus should not have to worry about how to reach home—the last-mile connectivity should be seamless, affordable, and integrated with easy digital payment options.

The Minister also called on urban planners and policymakers to design cities where residential colonies are located near workplaces, promoting the “walk-to-work” culture. He said the same principle should guide the development of government residential areas, enabling more efficient, livable, and sustainable urban environments.

Encouraging young officers to be transformative, solution-driven leaders, Shri Manohar Lal highlighted the achievements in urban transport and envisioned Indian cities as engines of growth and symbols of sustainability. He urged civil servants to champion inclusive urban planning and model governance to realize the vision of a developed India.

In a moment of pride for the Ministry, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Srinivas Katikithala, received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for the successful implementation of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.

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