Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Shri Manohar Lal, inaugurated Municipalika 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, outlining a comprehensive roadmap for India’s evolving urban landscape under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The three-day exhibition and conference, recognised as India’s only 360-degree platform on safe, smart and sustainable city solutions, is being held from 25 to 27 February 2026. The 18th edition brings together ministers, mayors, municipal commissioners, Smart City CEOs, policymakers, planners and technology providers to deliberate on governance, housing, mobility, sanitation, energy systems and digital public works. Organised by Fairfest Media in association with the Good Governance India Foundation and co-organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation, the event reflects expanding institutional collaboration. With rapid urbanisation reshaping India’s demographic and economic structure, the platform focuses on resilient infrastructure, climate-responsive planning and technology-led governance reforms. In his address, Shri Manohar Lal highlighted that nearly 40 per cent of India’s population resides in cities, and close to 800 million people are expected to live in urban areas over the next 25 years. Cities contribute nearly 70 per cent of GDP and about 90 per cent of revenues, underscoring their central role in national growth. He emphasised coordinated governance, policy clarity and infrastructure investment as critical drivers of sustainable urbanisation. Citing flagship initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, rental housing promotion, metro expansion, electric mobility and Integrated Command and Control Centres in 100 cities supported by over 84,000 CCTV cameras, the Minister said the government aims to strengthen safety, service delivery and municipal financial resilience. A target of 5,000 km of metro connectivity by 2047 was also reiterated. Providing a policy perspective, Ms D Thara, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, stated that nearly Rs 14 trillion has been invested in the urban sector over the past decade. She noted improvements in urban tap water coverage, sewerage infrastructure and implementation capacity, and stressed that the next phase must prioritise quality, efficiency and transformative planning. Referring to the Rs 1 trillion Urban Challenge Fund structured as a performance-linked mechanism, she urged cities to build financial discipline and strategically mobilise resources to unlock central support. She added that while urbanisation is inevitable, its effectiveness will depend on proactive planning and governance. Since 2003, Municipalika has hosted 17 editions across major cities, showcasing over 10,000 urban solutions and engaging more than 50,000 stakeholders. The 2026 edition features participation from over 300 cities across 25-plus states, with more than 300 exhibitors, 3,000 delegates and upwards of 10,000 trade visitors. The inaugural session included remarks from Mr V Suresh, President, Good Governance India Foundation and Former CMD, HUDCO; Ms Renu Bala, Chairperson, All India Council of Mayors; and Ms Anaclaudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat. The opening day featured parallel thematic tracks on urban policy, governance and ease of doing business; safe and secure cities; disaster response; building materials and technology innovation; fire safety; resilient infrastructure; and digital transformation in public works, including BIM and AI integration. Municipalika is co-located with CAPEx – Construction, Architecture, Planning and Engineering Expo – and PWX, the Public Works Expo. Together, the events create an integrated ecosystem covering housing, mobility, sanitation, digital governance, energy systems and civic infrastructure. The event is supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Earth Sciences, alongside national missions including AMRUT, PMAY-Urban, Swachh Bharat Mission, Namami Gange and the River Cities Alliance. UN-Habitat joins as Global Partner, reinforcing the international dimension of India’s urban transformation agenda. As India prepares for a significant phase of urban expansion, Municipalika 2026 positions itself as a strategic forum for policy alignment, financial innovation and public-private collaboration aimed at building safe, smart and globally competitive cities.