ARUNACHAL MEDIA DELEGATION COMPLETES FIRST-EVER SEVEN-DAY PIB VIKSIT BHARAT PRESS TOUR TO GUJARAT

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Ahmedabad, 12 Sept : A nine-member media delegation from Arunachal Pradesh successfully completed a seven-day Viksit Bharat Press Tour to Gujarat, organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), from September 6 to 12, 2026.

Led by Utsav Parmar, Joint Director, PIB, Itanagar, the delegation travelled across Ahmedabad, Dholera, Gandhinagar, Anand, Vadodara and Ekta Nagar, gaining first-hand exposure to Gujarat’s initiatives in urban planning, technology, science, forensic investigation, finance, agriculture, education, culture and tourism.

The tour provided the participating journalists an opportunity to study development models and identify practices that could potentially be adapted to the needs and circumstances of Arunachal Pradesh.

HERITAGE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The tour began at the PIB Office in Ahmedabad, where the delegation was briefed by Additional Director General Siddhartha Bodke on government-media communication and information dissemination mechanisms.

The journalists observed the importance of timely and organised press briefings in countering misinformation and ensuring effective communication with the public.

The delegation subsequently visited Kochrab Ashram, Mahatma Gandhi’s first ashram in India, established in 1915. The visit prompted discussions on the need to preserve Arunachal Pradesh’s traditional tribal houses, historical sites and locations associated with the state’s freedom fighters and cultural heritage.

At the Sabarmati Riverfront, the delegation undertook a river cruise and observed the development of the 11.5-km riverfront, including walkways, parks and the Atal Bridge.

The journalists noted that Arunachal’s rivers, including the Siang and Kameng, possess immense natural beauty and tourism potential, which could be enhanced through proper riverfront planning, cleanliness and environmental management.

At CEPT University, the delegation interacted with President Barjor Mehta on architecture, urban planning and sustainable development. The delegation observed that exposure and specialised training for town planners from Arunachal could contribute towards addressing challenges related to unplanned construction, traffic management and urban growth in Itanagar.

The delegation also visited the Sabarmati Multimodal Transport Hub, where railway, metro and BRTS services are integrated. The journalists felt that a similar, appropriately scaled multimodal transport facility around Hollongi Airport could improve connectivity between Hollongi, Itanagar and Naharlagun.

TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE AT DHOLERA

The third day focused on technology and future-oriented infrastructure.

At Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), around 110 km from Ahmedabad, the delegation was briefed on India’s planned greenfield industrial smart city and its emerging role in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing.

The delegation observed the importance of adopting a “plan first, then build” approach, particularly for emerging townships in Arunachal Pradesh, with underground utilities and integrated infrastructure planned from the beginning.

Technology became more interactive during an encounter with Alex, a humanoid robot, where the journalists witnessed demonstrations of artificial intelligence, robotics and human-machine interaction.

The delegation discussed the potential application of robotics in public institutions, including patient guidance at TRIHMS and STEM learning in educational institutions such as Rajiv Gandhi University and NIT Jote.

At GTPL News Studio, the delegation interacted with Editor-in-Chief Devang Bhatt and learnt about modern newsroom operations, broadcasting and digital media workflows. The journalists noted the scope for Arunachal’s local media organisations to strengthen digital newsrooms and improve the speed and quality of news delivery.

One of the major interactions of the tour took place at the Institute of Human Genetics, where Dr. Harsh Seth explained genetics research, DNA sample handling and hereditary cancer risks, including Lynch Syndrome.

During an extensive interaction, the delegation discussed cancer detection, genetic risk and the role of family history in identifying hereditary conditions. The journalists noted the importance of creating greater awareness about genetic factors associated with certain cancers and suggested strengthening genetic counselling and screening facilities in Arunachal Pradesh.

The delegation also invited Dr. Seth to consider visiting Arunachal Pradesh for awareness programmes.

FORENSIC SCIENCE, FINANCE AND CULTURE

At the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, the delegation was briefed by Vice Chancellor Dr. J.M. Vyas on developments in digital forensics, cybercrime investigation and DNA profiling.

A significant highlight was the interaction with 25 Laboratory Technician Assistants of the Arunachal Pradesh State Forensic Science Laboratory, PTC, PHQ, Itanagar, who had completed a six-month residential course in Crime Scene Management at NFSU.

The personnel were recruited after a gap of around 10–15 years and underwent specialised training to strengthen crime-scene management and forensic investigation capabilities in the state.

The delegation observed that strengthening Arunachal’s forensic infrastructure and trained manpower would help improve criminal investigations, expedite forensic examination and reduce dependence on facilities outside the state.

The delegation also visited an advanced veterinary institute and discussed the importance of strengthening district-level veterinary laboratories and mobile veterinary services for a state dependent on livestock such as Mithun, Yak and cattle.

At GIFT City, the journalists witnessed the development of India’s international financial services ecosystem and observed how planned infrastructure and a conducive policy environment can attract investment and create employment opportunities.

The delegation felt that developing a suitable technology and IT ecosystem in Itanagar, backed by reliable internet connectivity and supportive policies, could provide new employment opportunities for Arunachal’s youth.

At the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), the delegation explored approaches towards digital preservation of art and cultural heritage.

The journalists emphasised the need for systematic digital documentation of Arunachal’s rich traditions, including Nyishi, Adi, Galo, Monpa and Apatani weaving, songs, rituals and traditional knowledge, to ensure that they are preserved for future generations.

The day concluded with a Garba Cultural Exchange Programme featuring Gujarat Gaurav Awardee Bhavin Patel. Members of the delegation participated in Garba while dressed in traditional tribal attire.

The journalists observed similarities between Garba and several traditional circle and community dances of Arunachal Pradesh, including Ponung, Buiya and Aji Lamu, and discussed the potential of promoting Arunachal’s traditional performing arts on national and international platforms.

The programme was seen as a meaningful expression of the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

WHITE REVOLUTION AND EDUCATION

In Anand, the delegation visited Amul Dairy (GCMMF), widely associated with India’s White Revolution.

Interacting with Managing Director Amit Vyas, the journalists discussed the cooperative model and its potential applicability to Arunachal Pradesh.

The delegation explored the possibility of developing cooperative value chains around products such as Kiwi from Ziro, Orange from Dambuk and Cardamom from Anini, with the objective of improving market access, value addition and farmers’ incomes.

At Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Vadodara, the delegation interacted with Dean Dr. Jitesh Thakkar and learnt about the university’s role in developing specialised human resources for transport and logistics.

The interaction was particularly relevant in the context of Arunachal’s major connectivity projects, including frontier roads and the Bhalukpong-Tawang railway project.

The delegation also interacted with students from the Northeast at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, and discussed the experiences and challenges faced by students pursuing higher education outside the region.

The journalists felt that dedicated support mechanisms or helpdesks for students from the Northeast could help them remain connected with their home states while pursuing education elsewhere.

TOURISM, HYDROPOWER AND NATIONAL UNITY

The final phase of the tour took the delegation to Ekta Nagar, where they visited the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 metres, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The delegation paid floral tribute and was briefed by Additional Collector Shri Narayan Madhu on the development of Ekta Nagar as a major tourism destination.

The journalists observed that the transformation of a remote area into a major tourist destination through infrastructure, planning and focused promotion offered important lessons for Arunachal Pradesh.

They noted that destinations such as Parshuram Kund, Dong and other adventure and nature tourism locations in Arunachal could similarly be developed into major tourist attractions through improved connectivity, infrastructure, branding and sustainable tourism planning.

At the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the delegation learnt about dam management, rehabilitation, irrigation, drinking water supply and power generation.

The visit provided an opportunity to understand aspects of large-scale water resource management that could be relevant to Arunachal Pradesh, which has significant hydropower potential.

The delegation departed Ahmedabad on September 12 and returned to Arunachal Pradesh via Delhi.

A JOURNEY OF LEARNING AND REFLECTION

The seven-day press tour provided the Arunachal media delegation with a broad understanding of the Viksit Bharat vision—from heritage conservation at Kochrab Ashram and planned urban development in Ahmedabad to advanced manufacturing at Dholera; from robotics and genetic research to forensic science; from the cooperative success of Amul to transport education, cultural preservation and tourism development.

The delegation noted that while Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh have different geographical and socio-economic characteristics, several ideas and institutional practices observed during the tour could offer useful perspectives for Arunachal’s own development journey.

The journalists expressed their sincere gratitude to the Press Information Bureau, Itanagar, for providing the opportunity to undertake the press tour and gain first-hand exposure to various development initiatives.

The delegation also expressed appreciation to Utsav Parmar, Joint Director, PIB, Itanagar, for his guidance, coordination and support throughout the tour.

The delegation returned to Arunachal Pradesh carrying with it new perspectives on how planned infrastructure, science and technology, institutional capacity, cooperative development, cultural preservation and community participation can contribute towards building a more developed and sustainable Arunachal Pradesh.