Mumbai, Sep 09: India’s ambition to become a developed nation cannot be achieved without making its cities truly livable. The question of how urban development can improve the quality of everyday life will take centre stage at the 41st National Convention of Architectural Engineers of The Institution of Engineers, to be held at Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai, on September 12 and 13, 2026.

Organized by the Architectural Engineering Division Board and Maharashtra State Centre of IEI, the two-day convention will be held under the theme “Reimagining Urban India: Pathways to Livable Cities.” Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis is expected to be the Chief Guest at the convention.

The convention will bring together architects, engineers, urban planners, policymakers, administrators, industry leaders, academics and other stakeholders to deliberate on how Indian cities can become more inclusive, efficient, resilient, sustainable and people-centric.

Mumbai, one of India’s most important economic engines, will provide an important backdrop to the discussions. While the city is recognised for its economic dynamism, entrepreneurial energy and resilience, millions of residents continue to face congestion, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, pollution, housing pressures, limited public spaces and long commuting times.

“India aspires to become a developed nation. But can we achieve that ambition without making our cities livable? The real question is not simply how to build the next road, bridge, Metro line or skyscraper, but how to create cities where people can live, work, move, breathe, play and grow with dignity,” said Er. Suresh Babu, Founder and Principal, Suresh Babu and Partners, Architecture + Planning, and Organising Secretary of the National Convention of Architectural Engineers.

The convention will seek to shift the urban development conversation from infrastructure creation alone to the quality of life that infrastructure delivers. Discussions will cover mobility, housing, public spaces, pedestrian infrastructure, sustainability, technology, urban governance and integrated planning.

A key focus will be the need to put people rather than infrastructure at the centre of urban planning. Mumbai’s pedestrians, commuters, street vendors, sanitation workers, senior citizens, students and other citizens experience the strengths and shortcomings of the city every day. The convention will examine how their experiences can inform better planning and urban design.

Pedestrian infrastructure is expected to emerge as an important issue. Mumbai has already introduced policy frameworks aimed at improving pedestrian infrastructure, but implementation, maintenance and protection of footpaths remain critical challenges. A truly livable city, experts are expected to argue, must enable people to walk safely and comfortably rather than treating pedestrian space as residual urban land.

The experience of Mumbai’s dabbawalas will also offer lessons in urban mobility. Their daily movement across homes, streets, railway stations, trains and workplaces represents a highly coordinated mobility ecosystem, while traffic congestion and inadequate cycling infrastructure continue to affect urban efficiency.

Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, Hiranandani Group has also shared his views on the theme “How to Build Livable Cities: Beyond Infrastructure to Integrated Ecosystems.” Drawing on his experience in integrated township development, he has emphasized the need to view economic activity, infrastructure, housing, community, sustainability, technology, governance and inclusion as interconnected components of urban development.

The programme will also feature perspectives from senior policymakers and urban-development professionals, including Shri Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home, Housing, School Education, Co-operation and Mining, Government of Maharashtra and Ms Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Er. Manish Kothari, President, IEI, and Er. Sandip Kumar Deb, Chairman, Architectural Engineering Division Board (AERDB), IEI, will also be part of the convention, which is expected to provide a multidisciplinary platform for examining the future of Indian cities.

The convention will additionally explore how technology and artificial intelligence are changing urban planning, while raising questions around data, transparency, ethics and public participation. Another important area of discussion will be the need for seamless integration of rail, Metro, buses, walking, cycling and last-mile connectivity, alongside better coordination between employment centres and housing.

The central message of the convention is that no city becomes livable by accident. Urban transformation requires visionary leadership, integrated planning, sustained investment, effective governance and meaningful participation from citizens and diverse professional communities.

As India moves towards its developed-nation aspirations, the ultimate measure of urban development cannot be restricted to the number of roads, bridges, buildings or transit systems constructed. It must be whether these investments enable people to live with dignity, safety, opportunity and a better quality of life.

With its multidisciplinary character and more than a century of engagement with India’s engineering and development needs, IEI aims to use the 41st National Convention of Architectural Engineers as a platform to bring diverse perspectives together and contribute to a roadmap for cities that are not merely bigger and better connected, but truly livable.