Hyderabad, October 31, 2026: The Telangana Urban Innovation Summit 2026 concluded in Hyderabad, bringing together government leaders, urban administrators, policymakers, industry representatives, technology experts and development institutions to discuss the future of urban infrastructure, digital governance and sustainable city development.
Organised by Elets Technomedia in association with the Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department, Government of Telangana, and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the summit focused on building smart, resilient and investment-ready cities in line with Telangana’s vision for 2047.
Inaugural Session: Building Smart, Resilient and Investment-Ready Global Cities
The summit began with the welcome address by Dr. Ravi Gupta, Founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Elets Technomedia, who spoke about Elets’ two-decade-long journey of bringing together government, industry, academia and civil society through conferences and knowledge-sharing platforms.
“Our idea is to document innovations and create platforms for knowledge sharing,” he said, highlighting the importance of documenting successful initiatives and sharing them across different levels of governance through conferences, eGov Magazine and digital platforms.
Setting the context, P. Uday Kumar, Additional Commissioner – IT, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, highlighted the need to integrate environmental sustainability with urban development. “Development and environmental sustainability must progress together,” he said, stressing the importance of solutions that support growth while protecting natural resources.
The inaugural session also featured industry addresses by K. Goverdhan Reddy, President – Projects, MEIL, and Goutham Reddy Mereddy, Vice Chairman, Re Sustainability Ltd.
Mio Oka, Country Director, India Resident Mission, South Asia Department, Asian Development Bank, highlighted the importance of climate-resilient infrastructure, stronger municipal finances and bankable urban projects. She stated, “By 2047, I believe our success will be measured not only by the infrastructure we build, but also by the opportunities we create, the environment we restore and the quality of life we secure for future generations.”
Har Sahay Meena, Principal Secretary/Commissioner of Land Reforms, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Government of Tamil Nadu, spoke about integrated land records, institutional coordination and disaster preparedness. He observed, “Future-ready cities will be defined not merely by their physical infrastructure or technological capabilities, but by the strength of their institutions, the resilience of their communities and the quality of services they deliver.”
Sarfaraz Ahmad, Secretary, MA&UD (HMDA Limits) & Special Officer (GHMC, MMC and CMC), Government of Telangana, also addressed the gathering, sharing perspectives on urban administration and metropolitan development.
The Chief Guest, Sri Ponnam Prabhakar, Hon’ble Minister for Transport & Backward Classes Welfare, Government of Telangana, and Minister in Charge of Hyderabad, outlined the state’s priorities for strengthening public transportation and promoting sustainable urban mobility as part of Telangana’s vision for 2047. He highlighted the government’s efforts to encourage electric vehicle (EV) adoption through policy measures and subsidies, while addressing the challenge of urban pollution. He also stressed the need to strengthen public transport infrastructure and improve facilities to make public transportation more accessible and convenient for citizens.
A key highlight of the inaugural programme was the launch of the eGov Special Issue titled “TRANSFORMING TELANGANA: INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE & INVESTMENT FOR 2047.“ Featuring perspectives from experts and stakeholders across Telangana’s urban ecosystem, the special edition documents the initiatives, priorities and developments shaping the state’s urban landscape and its vision for 2047.
Technical Presentations and Industry Keynotes
The technical programme featured presentations on smart urban infrastructure, water security, infrastructure development and digital initiatives. Samrat Basak, Director, Foundation for Resilience Actions, Re Sustainability, presented on smart urban infrastructure and water security for Hyderabad’s future, while K. Goverdhan Reddy, President – Projects, MEIL, and KSRA Murthy, DGM – Planning, MEIL, shared the organisation’s contribution to infrastructure growth and urban development in Telangana.
Keynote addresses were delivered by P. Sitha MahaLakshmi, Associate Director – EV Program Lead, Raahgiri Foundation, and Prof. Sandeep Kumar Shukla, Professor & Director, IIIT Hyderabad. Vikram Salampuria, Director, Sudarshan Pipes, highlighted the organisation’s role in advancing infrastructure development through its solutions.
The programme also featured keynote addresses by Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, on AI and technologies for smart cities, and Mårten Frankby, Counsellor for Trade Promotion and Economic Affairs, Embassy of Sweden, New Delhi, on urban futures and translating vision into reality.
A presentation on digital initiatives by SBI featured Lambodar Mishra, AGM – SME, Secunderabad AO, SBI, and OPR Vithal, Chief Manager, TB HUB, SBI Secunderabad. The technical programme concluded with a presentation on MapsAI by Dr. Anand Vetrivel, Founder & CEO, FarmwiseAI.
Key Panel Discussions
The summit featured four panel discussions covering critical aspects of urban transformation:
- Building Future-Ready Cities: Smart Infrastructure, Water Security & Sustainable Urban Development
- Digital Governance, AI & Technology for Smarter Cities
- PPP 2.0 – Unlocking Private Investment in Urban Infrastructure, Housing & Utilities
- Financing Future-Ready Cities & CSR for Inclusive Urban Transformation
The discussions explored the need for integrated urban infrastructure, technology-enabled public services, sustainable water management, innovative financing mechanisms and stronger public-private partnerships.
Sharing insights on technology-led urban management, Pommala Sunil Kumar, Commissioner, Bengaluru North City Corporation, said, “We must first use technology to identify and understand problems, and then work towards addressing them.” He shared examples of AI-based road assessments, footpath restoration and coordinated infrastructure planning.
Sanjita Mohapatra, Municipal Commissioner, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad City Municipal Corporation, highlighted the financial and institutional challenges faced by urban local bodies, particularly smaller and mid-sized cities. “Urban aspirations often exceed the institutional and financial capacities of municipal corporations. Bridging this gap requires innovation, collaboration and private investment,” she said.
The sessions also examined opportunities to strengthen municipal finances, attract private investment, improve disaster preparedness and promote inclusive urban development.
Advancing Telangana’s Urban Vision for 2047
The summit concluded with a closing address from R. V. Karnan, Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
Across the day’s deliberations, the Telangana Urban Innovation Summit 2026 provided a platform for government, industry, academia and development institutions to exchange ideas and explore collaborative approaches to urban transformation.
The discussions reinforced the importance of sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, institutional capacity, and investment in building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready cities as Telangana progresses towards its 2047 vision.
For more details, visit: https://events.eletsonline.com/telangana-urban-summit/