Urbanova25 paves the way for smarter, sustainable infrastructure

Urbanova25, held on February 21 at Courtyard by Marriott, brought together industry leaders and government officials to discuss urban development, smart cities, and sustainable infrastructure issues and prospects.

As India strives to become a $5 trillion economy, infrastructure development remains a critical driver of growth. Urbanova25, a leading infrastructure procurement event, addressed significant challenges and opportunities in this field, focusing on sustainable urban development, smart city initiatives, and creative procurement tactics.

The one-day event, “Latest in Indian Infrastructure Procurement,” brought together industry experts, policymakers, and thought leaders for discussion about many aspects of infrastructure improvement, including urban transit, waste management, and sustainability. The event started with ceremonial lamp lighting by distinguished guests R. Ramana, Rajender Singh, Dr Sushma Kulkarni, Anil Wankhede, Prasad Nair, and Radha Poptani, laying the framework for enlightening discussions on how to improve India’s evolving infrastructure landscape.

The event brought together professionals from several industries, including city planners, civil engineers, architects, real estate specialists, CEOs, MDs, and VPs of EPC companies, project developers, road contractors, and government agencies. Urbanova25 provided a remarkable chance for industry professionals to share their experiences and contribute to India’s evolving urban infrastructure.

The keynote talk was made by Chief Guest R. Ramana, Director (Planning & Real Estate Dev/NFBR), Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, and focused on India’s infrastructure procurement difficulties. Addressing issues such as contractor eligibility and financial capacity, he underlined how collaborative platforms like Urbanova25 improve industry-government communication, hence encouraging urbanisation and long-term progress.

Special guests, including Anil Wankhede, Deputy CEO of MHADA, emphasised MHADA’s efforts in affordable housing, while Dr Sushma Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of NICMAR University, emphasised the importance of procurement in India’s infrastructure development. Rajender Singh, Founder Member of IUDI (Institute of Urban Designers India), stressed the importance of transit-oriented development in deciding the country’s urban future.

Three fascinating panel discussions took place throughout the event. The first was “Smart Cities – Review on Current Smart City Development,” moderated by Dr Ravindra Utgikar, Vice President & Business Unit Head, Wilo India. Ashok Punjwani (Dholera SIR Project), Shailesh Pathak (Pureways Infra Pvt Ltd), and Aditya Sharma (PwC) spoke about the importance of technology, data management, and cybersecurity in urban infrastructure.

Another panel discussion on “Making Maharashtra Great with Sustainable Urban Development” was moderated by Phani Prasad M, Associate Director, CRISIL, with panellists Sameer Unhale (Urban Maharashtra), Vibhav Joshi (Padeco Co. Ltd.), A.H. Khan (Kalpataru Projects), and Rahul Sharma (Tata Projects) sharing insights on transforming Maharashtra into a sustainability model.

The third panel, “Advanced Technology Driving Infrastructure Development,” looked at advancements in road and concrete recycling, green building materials, and water reuse technologies. Dr Yogini Deshpande (Renuka Consultants) presided over the panel, which also featured KRS Narayan (Reliance Industries), Dr Vishal Thombare (Coastal Road Dept., MCGM), and Prof. Dharamveer Singh (IIT Mumbai).

R.A. Rajeev (IAS Retd, Director, Urban World Consulting) and Ujwal Landge (Partner & CEO, EA Patil & Associates LLP) held a fireside chat about funding and investment strategies for future projects, delving into intriguing financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), green bonds, and infrastructure funds.

The event also included impactful presentations on infrastructure challenges by speakers such as Rajiv Singal (Plaksa Solutions), Pankaj Gonge (BMC), Dr Ramnath Sonawane (Ex CEO, Nagpur Smart City), Raghunath Patil (Prism Johnson Limited – RMC Division), Kiran Sawant (Pidilite Industries), M. Mahadev (MMRDA), Vaibhav Raje (Treecotech LLP), and Nikesh Pathare (Chetak Minerals).

The event wrapped up with an invitation to Urbanova26 in Mumbai. The upcoming conference will look deeper into the future of India’s infrastructure sector. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in influential discussions that will pave the way for the country’s infrastructure development.

For more details, visit: https://www.urbanovaindia.com/