GUWAHATI, Nov 10: Aizawl has bagged the Special Award for Efficient Traffic Management System at the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2025, held in Gurugram, Haryana, on November 9. The award recognizes Aizawl’s innovative and adaptive approach to urban traffic management in one of India’s most challenging hilly terrains.
Organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the three-day conference brought together over 1,600 delegates from eight countries, including experts, policymakers, and industry leaders, to discuss the future of sustainable and inclusive urban transport.
Aizawl’s unique traffic management practices, including the polite “Pete Pete” honk used for overtaking and the city’s “No Vehicle Zone” initiative during festive occasions, stood out for blending local culture with effective traffic regulation. The city’s efforts—led by the Town & Country Planning Department, Mizoram—focus on smart, community-driven solutions to ease congestion, promote discipline, and enhance commuter experience despite steep slopes and limited road space.
The Mizoram government’s State Road Safety Policy was also highlighted for its comprehensive framework addressing road safety through education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency response. The policy emphasizes political commitment, cross-departmental coordination, and concrete numerical targets to reduce accidents and fatalities across the state.
At the valedictory ceremony, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power S. Manohar Lal praised states and cities for their innovative contributions toward shaping India’s urban mobility landscape. He urged Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to start integrated mobility planning early to ensure they are “future-ready.”
The minister also unveiled the logo and website of the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, aimed at accelerating the adoption of clean and inclusive public transport across Indian cities. He announced that the 19th edition of the UMI Conference will be hosted in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from October 23 to 25, 2026.
Other notable winners at the event included Chennai for Best Public Transport System, Udaipur for Best Non-Motorized Transport System, Hyderabad for Best Green Transport Initiative, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for Best Passenger Services.
