| Tapan Kr DAS |
ITANAGAR, Sep 13: A Press Information Bureau (PIB), Itanagar-sponsored press tour to Gujarat provided a nine-member media delegation from Arunachal Pradesh with an opportunity to explore a diverse range of development initiatives, institutions, technological innovations and cultural landmarks from September 6 to 12.
The first-of-its-kind exposure visit for Arunachal-based journalists was designed to familiarise the media with major projects and institutions shaping Gujarat’s development landscape. It also enabled the participating journalists to interact with officials, experts and stakeholders and gain a first-hand understanding of initiatives in infrastructure, urban planning, technology, industry, education, transportation, cooperative development and heritage conservation.
Led by PIB Itanagar Joint Director Utsav Parmar, the delegation travelled across Ahmedabad, Dholera, Vadodara and Ekta Nagar, witnessing the State’s efforts to combine economic growth with technological advancement, institutional development and cultural preservation.
Exploring Gandhian heritage and urban development
The tour began in Ahmedabad with a visit to Kochrab Ashram, a site closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s early experiments in community living, self-reliance and public service. The visit offered the journalists an insight into the historical and philosophical foundations of the freedom movement and the continuing relevance of Gandhian values.
The delegation also visited the Sabarmati Riverfront, an important urban development project that has transformed the riverfront into a public space incorporating recreation, civic amenities and environmental improvement, and boosting tourism. The visit provided an opportunity to observe how urban infrastructure can be planned alongside public access and city beautification.
At CEPT University, Ahmedabad, the journalists were introduced to perspectives on architecture, urban planning, design and sustainable development. The interaction helped connect the broader themes of infrastructure creation and urban growth with the importance of planning, design and academic research.
Dholera: A glimpse of the emerging industrial landscape
One of the major highlights of the tour was the visit to the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), Gujarat, a greenfield development project envisioned as a major industrial and investment destination.
The delegation explored the emerging infrastructure and industrial ecosystem of Dholera and gained an understanding of the planning and connectivity requirements involved in developing a modern industrial region. The visit offered insights into the role of integrated infrastructure, technology and investment facilitation in attracting industries and creating new economic opportunities.
For the visiting journalists, Dholera presented a practical example of how large-scale development projects are conceived and implemented, and how emerging industrial centres can contribute to employment generation, investment and regional growth.
The visit also included an external view of Tata’s semiconductor fabrication plant, described as India’s first large-scale semiconductor fabrication facility, which is currently under construction at Dholera.
Technology, forensics and the changing world of work
The visit to the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) provided the delegation with exposure to developments in forensic science, cyber security, investigation and emerging technologies.
The journalists interacted with experts and explored the growing role of scientific and technological tools in criminal investigation, public safety and justice delivery.
The delegation also witnessed emerging technological applications, including the AI humanoid robot Alex, which offered a glimpse into the possibilities of artificial intelligence and human-machine interaction.
The visit highlighted the increasing importance of specialised education, research and technology-driven skills in addressing contemporary challenges. It also underlined the need for greater public awareness of new technologies and their applications across different sectors.
GIFT City and the future of financial services
The delegation next visited Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, widely known as GIFT City. The project provided an insight into India’s efforts to develop a modern financial and technology services hub supported by advanced infrastructure and a business-oriented ecosystem.
The journalists were briefed on the significance of GIFT City in the areas of financial services, technology, investment and global business operations. The visit helped the media team understand the institutional and infrastructural requirements of emerging economic centres and the importance of creating an enabling environment for enterprise and innovation.
Learning from the cooperative movement at AMUL
The visit to Anand, the home of the dairy cooperative movement, was another important component of the tour. At AMUL, the delegation learned about the organisation’s journey from a farmers’ cooperative initiative to a major dairy brand with a wide national and international presence.
The journalists were briefed on milk collection, processing, value addition, marketing and the cooperative model that links producers with consumers. They also visited AMUL’s butter and chocolate plants and had the opportunity to taste dark chocolate products.
The visit highlighted the role of organised cooperatives in improving rural livelihoods, strengthening farmers’ participation and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
During the interaction, the delegation also raised questions about the possibilities of developing a similar dairy-based cooperative ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh, considering the State’s livestock resources, rural economy and livelihood needs.
The visit to the AMUL chocolate manufacturing facility further familiarised the journalists with food processing, product diversification and value addition within the dairy sector.
Multimodal connectivity & specialised education
At Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara, the delegation explored the role of specialised education in developing skilled human resources for the transportation and logistics sectors.
The journalists were briefed on multimodal connectivity, transportation management, logistics, emerging technologies and industry-oriented academic programmes. The interaction underlined the importance of linking higher education with the changing requirements of infrastructure, mobility and supply-chain management.
The delegation also visited the National Academy of Indian Railways, where it gained further exposure to professional training and capacity-building initiatives associated with the railway sector.
These visits offered useful perspectives on the importance of technical education, institutional training and specialised human resources in supporting large-scale infrastructure and transportation projects.
Heritage, art and cultural exchange
The tour also included visits to Pratap Vilas Palace and other heritage-related sites in Vadodara. These engagements provided the delegation with an opportunity to understand the region’s architectural, historical and artistic traditions.
At the Raja Ravi Varma Art Studio, the journalists explored aspects of Indian artistic heritage and interacted with a regional director associated with cultural institutions. The interaction also enabled an exchange of perspectives on the diverse cultural traditions of Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
The final day of the tour took the journalists to Ekta Nagar, where they visited the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam. They paid floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and toured the facilities associated with the Statue of Unity, one of the country’s prominent landmarks.
The delegation was also briefed on the development of Ekta Nagar and interacted with local stakeholders, including members of the Rathwa tribal community. The cultural exchange provided an opportunity to share traditions, customs and cultural expressions. Traditional performances and participation in a Garba programme added a vibrant dimension to the visit.
The interaction with the Rathwa community also reinforced the importance of preserving indigenous traditions while promoting mutual understanding and cultural dialogue among communities from different parts of the country.
Strengthening Media-Govt engagement
Speaking at the conclusion of the tour, PIB Itanagar Joint Director Utsav Parmar said exposure programmes such as the press tour provided journalists with an opportunity to understand development initiatives, institutions and emerging sectors through direct interaction and observation.
He said such programmes also helped strengthen professional engagement between the media and the government by creating space for dialogue, information exchange and a better understanding of public initiatives.
Parmar stated that PIB Itanagar planned to organise more media engagement programmes in the coming days, covering different sectors and important initiatives.
Emphasising the role of the media in a democracy, he said effective communication between the government and the public was essential. An informed media, he added, could play an important role in communicating government initiatives as well as highlighting public concerns and issues requiring attention.
Carrying experiences back home
The weeklong press tour brought together diverse experiences—from Gandhian heritage and riverfront development to smart industrial planning, financial services, forensic science, cooperative enterprise, transportation education and tribal culture.
For the Arunachal media delegation, the visit was not merely an opportunity to observe Gujarat’s development journey, but also served as a platform for professional interaction, knowledge exchange and reflection on how different models of development could inform public discussion in the North-Eastern Region.
As the journalists returned to Arunachal Pradesh, the experiences gathered during the tour offered fresh perspectives on innovation, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, institutional development and cultural heritage.
The visit also strengthened the connection between the western frontier of India and the Land of the Rising Sun, highlighting the value of media exchanges in promoting greater understanding of the country’s varied development experiences.