Ahmedabad, Feb 23 ; A team of media persons from Jammu on Sunday commenced a tour of Gujarat to get a first-hand experience of key developmental projects and institutions in the state, officials said.
The tour has been organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Jammu.
Upon arrival in Ahmedabad, the media delegation called on the Director General of PIB, Ahmedabad, Prashant Pathrabe, who welcomed the journalists and highlighted the objective of such initiatives in bridging the interface between the government and the media.
The visiting delegation is being led by Director of PIB Jammu, Neha Jalali.
Briefing the media team, Pathrabe provided an overview of Gujarat’s socio-economic profile and spoke about major ongoing infrastructural projects. He noted that apart from traditional sectors like petrochemicals and textiles, the state is making significant progress in financial services and IT. He also mentioned the initiatives taken to develop world-class sports facilities in view of the 2030 Youth Commonwealth Games to be held in Ahmedabad.
Jalali said the media exchange programme plays a vital role in strengthening professional engagement and promoting a deeper understanding of development initiatives, facilitating well-informed reporting.
During the first day of the tour, the delegation visited the historic Kochrab Ashram in Ahmedabad, the first ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 after his return from South Africa. The team was briefed about its significance in India’s freedom movement and the restoration efforts being undertaken to preserve the legacy of Gandhiji.
The journalists also visited the site of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (Bullet Train Project). Officials apprised them of the technological advancements and the progress of the 508-kilometre project, which will connect 12 stations and reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to approximately two hours.
The team later toured the Sabarmati High-Speed Rail Multimodal Hub, being developed by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). Principal Project Manager Rajesh Aggarwal explained that the hub is designed to integrate multiple modes of transport including Indian Railways, Metro, BRTS, and high-speed rail, and will be able to handle around one lakh commuters daily.
In the coming days, the delegation is scheduled to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the National Forensic Sciences University, and the Statue of Unity. (KNS)
