Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Inaugurates Municipalika 2026, Outlines Blueprint for Viksit Bharat’s Urban Future

Municipalika 2026, the 18th edition of India’s longest-running international exhibition and conference on Safe, Smart and Sustainable City Solutions, was inaugurated today by Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Government of India, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Recognised as India’s only 360-degree event in city infrastructure, the three-day platform is being held from February 25 to 27, 2026, bringing together Ministers, Mayors, Municipal Commissioners, Smart City CEOs, policymakers, urban planners, technology providers, and international institutions to deliberate on the future of India’s urban transformation.Organised by Fairfest Media in association with the Good Governance India Foundation and co-organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation, the 2026 edition reflects strengthened institutional collaboration and growing national significance. As Indian cities expand rapidly and infrastructure demands intensify, Municipalika 2026 provides a comprehensive platform addressing governance reforms, resilient public infrastructure, housing, mobility, sanitation, energy systems, climate-responsive planning, and digital transformation in public works. Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the event focuses on driving urban innovation across the full spectrum of city development. The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Mr. V. Suresh, President, Good Governance India Foundation and Former CMD, HUDCO, followed by remarks from Ms. Renu Bala, Chairperson, All India Council of Mayors; Ms. D Thara, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; and a felicitatory address by Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat. Shri Manohar Lal underscored the importance of coordinated governance, policy clarity, infrastructure investment, and technology integration in accelerating sustainable and citizen-centric urban development across India.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Government of India, said, “India’s urban transformation is entering a decisive phase. Nearly 40 percent of our population lives in cities today, and in the next 25 years, close to 80 crore people will reside in urban areas. Cities already contribute nearly 70 percent of GDP and close to 90 percent of revenues. The path to Viksit Bharat runs through strong, secure, and sustainable cities. Since its inception in 2003, Municipalika has hosted 17 successful editions across major Indian cities, showcasing more than 10,000 safe, smart, and sustainable city solutions and engaging over 50,000 urban development stakeholders. The 2026 edition brings together representatives from over 300 cities across 25-plus states and international delegations, featuring more than 300 exhibitors, over 3,000 delegates, and upwards of 10,000 trade visitors.
Highlighting the role of industry collaboration, Mr. Vasudevan Suresh, President, Good Governance India Foundation and Former CMD, HUDCO, said, “India’s rapid urban transformation has created a strong demand for innovative infrastructure and public works solutions. Municipalika connects B2G and B2B stakeholders under one roof and is co-located with CAPEx, Construction, Architecture, Planning, and Engineering Expo, and PWX, the Public Works Expo focused on roads, utilities, and civic infrastructure. Together, the three events form an integrated ecosystem addressing every dimension of the built environment, from housing and mobility to sanitation, digital governance, energy systems, and public works. Public sector participation includes key urban agencies such as the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, alongside leading private sector innovators.
The event is being organised with strong institutional backing from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Jal Shakti – Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Earth Sciences, reflecting alignment with national priorities in urban transformation and infrastructure resilience. Other key national missions associated include Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, Swachh Bharat Mission, Namami Gange and the River Cities Alliance. Institutional support also comes from HUDCO, UiWIN and CPWD. The global dimension is strengthened by UN-Habitat as Global Partner. Participating partner states include the Government of Meghalaya, Shillong Smart City and the Government of Karnataka. PRAMA joins as Principal Partner, the Local Self Government Department, Government of Rajasthan leads the State Pavilion, and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram comes on board as Premium Partner City.