Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, emphasised that easy, reliable, and safe mobility is the fundamental right of every citizen and that urban transport systems like the Delhi Metro have become an indispensable part of urban living. The minister was speaking at the 31st Foundation Day event of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. He underlined that by 2047, nearly 50 percent of India’s population will reside in urban areas, making it imperative to plan and strengthen urban mobility infrastructure today.

He shared a visionary idea of adding cargo compartments to metro trains, enabling small businessmen, vendors, and hawkers to seamlessly transport their goods across the city. He said this step will save time and enhance business efficiency for the urban working class. The minister reiterated that metro systems will be the lifeline of every city in India, and their continued expansion and modernisation are key to building smart, inclusive, and future-ready urban centres.

On the occasion, DMRC’s Annual Awards were also presented to individuals and teams for their exemplary contributions to the organisation. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present on the occasion.