CM Dhami flags off expedition team for GPS/GIS mapping and technical survey; initiative to make trekking safer, organised and technology-driven
Dehradun, September 2026: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday flagged off an expedition team from the Chief Minister’s Camp Office for GPS/GIS mapping and technical surveys of 100 major trekking and hiking routes across the state.
The teams constituted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council will conduct field surveys of the selected trekking routes and undertake detailed GPS/GIS mapping.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand has immense potential for adventure and trekking tourism. He stressed the need to make greater use of modern technology to systematically bring both popular trekking destinations and remote, lesser-known trekking routes onto the tourism map.
He said the initiative would help make trekking safer, easier and more organised.
Dhami said that while promoting tourism activities in the state, the safety of tourists remains the top priority of the government. Scientific mapping of trekking routes would provide trekkers with essential information about routes and also help make relief and rescue operations more effective during emergencies.
He said special attention was being given to protecting Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem alongside tourism development.
The Chief Minister said the project would boost tourism activities in remote mountainous areas of the state. It would also create new employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth through guiding, homestays and other tourism-related activities.
He directed officials to ensure the participation of local communities in the implementation of the project.
Offline and online GPS navigation app planned
Tourism Secretary Dheeraj Garbyal said that under the project, GPS/GIS mapping and technical surveys of 100 major trekking and hiking routes in Uttarakhand would be undertaken.
Based on the mapping, an offline and online GPS navigation application will be developed. The application will enable trekkers to access essential information about trails and routes on their mobile phones even in areas where network connectivity is unavailable.
Garbyal said that after the successful implementation of the project, Uttarakhand would become the first state in the country to develop an offline and online GPS navigation application covering all 100 mapped trekking routes.
The application would provide trekkers with improved navigation facilities and could also prove useful during rescue operations in emergency situations.
Campsites, toilets and waste-management locations to be identified
The Tourism Secretary said suitable locations for campsites, dustbins and toilets along the trekking routes would also be identified during the mapping exercise.
This would enable the government to undertake planned development of essential facilities along trekking routes, improve waste management and strengthen environmental conservation measures.
He said the official Uttarakhand Tourism Master Plan also places emphasis on safety arrangements, communication facilities, signages and emergency evacuation systems along trekking routes.
The project, he said, would contribute to the development of a sustainable and science-based tourism model in the state.
Lesser-known trekking destinations to gain wider recognition
As part of the project, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and a coffee-table book will also be prepared. These initiatives are expected to help showcase lesser-known trekking destinations in Uttarakhand and provide them greater recognition at the national and international levels.
The mapping exercise is expected to provide a comprehensive technological framework for trekking routes, helping tourists access reliable route information while supporting authorities in planning infrastructure, safety measures and emergency response systems.
The initiative is also aimed at integrating Uttarakhand’s natural and adventure tourism potential with modern technology while maintaining a focus on environmental sustainability.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, Additional Secretary Tourism and Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council Abhishek Ruhela, Additional Director Tourism Poonam Chand and other concerned officials were present on the occasion.
