Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has embarked on a pioneering effort to fuse cutting‑edge technology with the region’s trekking and adventure‑tourism ecosystem. On Friday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially dispatched an expedition team from his camp office to carry out GPS‑GIS mapping and comprehensive technical surveys of one hundred prominent trekking and hiking corridors across the state.
Tasked by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, the field teams will traverse the selected pathways, digitally charting each route while pinpointing optimal spots for campsites, waste bins, sanitation facilities and other essential infrastructure.
"Uttarakhand holds vast untapped potential for trekking and adventure tourism. Precise scientific mapping will make our trails safer, better organized, and more accessible," said CM Dhami, emphasizing that visitor safety and Himalayan ecosystem preservation remain top priorities.
Offline Access to Trail Data
Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal revealed that the survey outcomes will feed into a new GPS navigation application capable of functioning both online and offline. Even in zones lacking cellular coverage, trekkers will be able to retrieve crucial route information on their smartphones, a feature that will also aid rescue and relief missions during emergencies.
Economic Upswing for Mountain Communities
The initiative is projected to invigorate tourism in remote mountain locales and generate jobs for local youth in guiding, homestays, and ancillary services. The Chief Minister has instructed officials to ensure active participation of village communities throughout the project.
Following the fieldwork, the Tourism Department plans to compile a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and publish a coffee‑table book, spotlighting lesser‑known trails and elevating their profile on national and international platforms.
Present at the launch were Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, Additional Secretary (Tourism) and Additional CEO of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Abhishek Ruhela, Additional Director (Tourism) Poonam Chand, along with other senior officials.
