By Shishir Prashant 
A two-day capacity-building programme on the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, held on 22–23 October 2026 at Doon University, concluded successfully with a focus on strengthening integrated infrastructure development, transportation systems, and technology-driven governance in Uttarakhand.
The programme was jointly organised by the Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPPGG), Planning Department, Government of Uttarakhand, and the Centre of Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (CoE-LSCM), School of Management, Doon University. Government officials received practical training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), geospatial analysis, integration of departmental datasets, and scientific planning of infrastructure projects.
In a proposed message for the programme, Vice-Chancellor of Doon University, Prof. Surekha Dangwal, stated, “The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is a significant initiative towards integrated infrastructure development in India. For a mountainous state like Uttarakhand, geospatial technologies, data-driven decision-making, and interdepartmental coordination are particularly important. Such collaborative capacity-building programmes will enhance the technical competencies of government officials while making development planning more efficient, transparent, and people-centric.”
During the technical session, Shashank Lingwal, Scientist at the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC), delivered an expert lecture on “Creation of Departmental GIS Databases: A Line Department User’s Perspective.” He highlighted the importance of geospatial data in infrastructure planning, efficient resource management, interdepartmental coordination, and project monitoring. He emphasised that GIS-based planning is particularly valuable for improving road connectivity, disaster management, and essential infrastructure services in mountainous regions.
The valedictory session was attended by Prof. Santosh Rangnekar, Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee; Prof. Rina Singh, Head, School of Management, Doon University; Prof. S. C. Purohit; Dr. Sudhanshu Joshi, Coordinator, CoE-LSCM; Dr. Naresh Chandra, Assistant Director and Nodal Officer, PM Gati Shakti; and Dr. Ajay Kukshal, Assistant Programmer, Planning Department. The session highlighted the importance of technological innovation, effective management, institutional collaboration, and scientific planning in achieving sustainable infrastructure development. Participants shared their experiences and appreciated the practical relevance of the training. Certificates were also distributed to participants who successfully completed the programme.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. Sudhanshu Joshi emphasised that the successful implementation of PM Gati Shakti requires not only advanced technologies but also skilled human resources and effective interdepartmental coordination. He highlighted that the Centre of Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Doon University is actively engaged in research, consultancy, and capacity-building activities in transportation, supply chain management, agricultural and dairy logistics, geospatial planning, and sustainable development. These initiatives aim to address the state’s emerging developmental challenges through research-driven and practical solutions. He further observed that the collaborative capacity-building initiative undertaken by CPPGG and CoE-LSCM serves as an important bridge between academic research, policymaking, and administrative implementation.
Dr. Joshi expressed his gratitude to the distinguished guests, resource persons, participants, and organising institutions. He also acknowledged the contributions of Aishwarya, Akshay Navraj, Kailash Rawat, and Tanuja Joshi towards the successful coordination and organisation of the programme.
The joint initiative represents an important step towards strengthening scientific planning, administrative efficiency, institutional collaboration, and sustainable infrastructure development in Uttarakhand.
