BRICS transport ministers adopt joint declaration on sustainable mobility, logistics at Nagpur meeting
New Delhi, July 12
The 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting concluded in Nagpur, Maharashtra, with member countries unanimously adopting a joint ministerial declaration that lays out a common framework for cooperation on sustainable transport, logistics, rail research and low-carbon mobility under India's BRICS Chairship in 2026, it was announced on Sunday.
Held on July 11 under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the meeting marked a key milestone in advancing collaboration on transport infrastructure, sustainable mobility and logistics among the grouping.
It was preceded by the 3rd BRICS Transport Working Group (TWG) Senior Officials' Meeting held on July 9 and 10, where senior officials finalised the agenda and draft declaration for ministerial approval.
The declaration outlines a shared framework for cooperation in areas including circularity in infrastructure, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), transport decarbonisation, urban mobility hubs, logistics and supply chain cooperation, and the BRICS Railway Research Network.
According to the official statement, the declaration reflects the collective commitment of BRICS nations to deepen cooperation across priority areas through consensus and mutual participation. The deliberations were guided by the bloc's principles of mutual respect, equality and consensus.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari thanked all participating delegations for their support in achieving a successful outcome at the ministerial meeting.
India also expressed appreciation for the constructive engagement and valuable contributions made by all BRICS member countries, noting that their collective efforts ensured the successful conclusion of the meeting. It reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating a smooth transition of the initiatives agreed upon during its chairship to the next BRICS Chair.
The four-day programme brought together transport ministers, senior officials and technical experts from BRICS member countries. Alongside the Transport Ministers' Meeting and the Senior Officials' Meeting, the programme included bilateral engagements and cultural presentations showcasing the diversity of BRICS nations, providing an opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation, people-to-people ties and mutual understanding among participating delegations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sustainable Aviation Fuel and urban mobility hubs—these are buzzwords we keep hearing but I hope there is actual implementation. India needs to move beyond conferences and start building real infrastructure. However, credit to Gadkari ji for bringing global attention to our transport sector. 🇮🇳
Interesting to see BRICS focusing on transport decarbonisation while many Western countries are slowing down their green goals. If India can build efficient logistics networks and low-carbon mobility, it could become a model for developing nations. The Railway Research Network is a smart collaborative move.
Finally, India is taking leadership role in global forums. The fact that this meeting happened in Nagpur—a tier-2 city—shows our government's commitment to decentralised development. I hope the circularity in infrastructure part leads to better use of recycled materials in our roads and railways.
While I support cooperation, I am slightly sceptical about how much of this will translate to ground reality. We have seen many BRICS declarations but implementation has been slow. Still, sustainable mobility is critical for India's future, and any effort is better than none. The cultural presentations are a nice touch.
As someone who travels daily in overcrowded urban transport, I welcome any focus on urban mobility hubs. But we need more than declarations—we need accountability. The BRICS Railway Research Network sounds promising—India could learn a lot from Russia's rail system and China's high-speed trains. Let's hope this is not just another photo-op. 😊
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