The Destination Uttarakhand Conclave 2.0, organized by The Times of India on Thursday, emerged as a significant platform bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on the state's future growth path. The event witnessed participation from policymakers, industry experts, technologists and sectoral specialists who engaged in meaningful conversations about emerging opportunities and necessary reforms.
Leadership Vision for Uttarakhand's Progress
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, serving as the chief guest, emphasized the conclave's role in shaping a forward-looking development roadmap. "This platform will facilitate crucial discussions about Uttarakhand's development model, investment prospects, tourism potential, agricultural advancements, startup ecosystem and infrastructure requirements," Dhami stated. He highlighted the state's consistent excellence in national and international rankings while asserting that the conclave would inject fresh momentum into Uttarakhand's growth story.
Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu, delivering the keynote address, detailed the government's initiatives to create an investor-friendly environment. "We extend comprehensive support to villagers, business communities, tourists and anyone showing even minimal interest in investing here," Sudhanshu affirmed. He proudly mentioned the state's ecological achievements, noting that tiger populations have surged from approximately 150 in 2006 to 560 currently, demonstrating Uttarakhand's commitment to environmental conservation.
Tourism and Infrastructure Expansion
The inaugural session, titled 'The New Himalayan Narrative', explored how evolving tourism trends are transforming Uttarakhand. Ranjan Mishra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, highlighted the state's natural advantages for eco-tourism. "With five national parks, five wildlife sanctuaries, four community reserves and one biosphere reserve, Uttarakhand possesses all ingredients to become a world-class eco-tourism destination," Mishra explained. He stressed the importance of coexistence with wildlife and maintaining garbage-free forests.
Adventure tourism received significant attention with Abhishek Rohilla, Additional Secretary in the tourism department, announcing ambitious expansion plans. "Soon every district will feature paragliding sites, while Mandakini and Tons rivers will host rafting activities matching Rishikesh's standards," Rohilla revealed. The state is systematically establishing adventure opportunities across various districts to diversify tourist experiences.
Tejas Parulekar, founder of micro-hospitality collective SaffronStays, pointed to substantial gaps in hospitality infrastructure. "India currently has about 1.90 lakh branded hotel rooms, while Las Vegas alone surpasses this number. This clearly indicates both the gap and opportunity in our hospitality sector," Parulekar observed. Ashwin Pundir, former ACEO of adventure tourism, added that other states including Himachal and Goa regularly consult Uttarakhand for frameworks related to water and mountain sports.
Social Development and Technological Integration
The 'Empowering Uttarakhand' session highlighted significant social progress. Chandresh Kumar, Women and Child Development Secretary, reported substantial improvement in sex ratios from 962 during the state's formation to 984 currently. Education Secretary Ravinath Raman emphasized that women and children constitute the backbone of Uttarakhand's social sector, with their strength directly correlating to societal strength.
Technological advancements took center stage with Anurag Pandey, Chief Architect at HCL Technologies, advocating for conscious adoption of artificial intelligence. "AI is inevitable and presents both advantages and challenges. Our education system must prepare children to navigate these technological transformations effectively," Pandey asserted. The discussion also addressed critical healthcare needs, with Dr Lokendra Gupta, Director of Critical Care and Trauma Centre at Medanta Medicity, predicting dramatic improvements in trauma care and emergency medicine in coming years.
Arpit Jain, Co-founder of Sunfox Technologies, emphasized the importance of healthcare accessibility. "Heart health services and general healthcare must reach the last mile, with basic medical training provided to laypersons to ensure a healthy future for our state," Jain recommended.
Infrastructure Achievements and Economic Transformation
The concluding session, 'Building the Future', showcased Uttarakhand's infrastructure milestones. Principal Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram announced that the road network has doubled since the state's formation. Infrastructure Secretary Pankaj Pandey revealed that 99% of Uttarakhand's villages now have road connectivity, significantly boosting small and micro industries. He added that all state bridges would soon become load-carrying structures.
Vipul Dawar, former CII Uttarakhand chairman, shared his personal experience of the state's transformation since relocating his industry from Germany in 2011. "The journey from Delhi to Dehradun that previously took nine hours now completes in just a few hours. Uttarakhand has emerged as a major automobile producer, contributing 40% of India's total automobile output," Dawar stated.
Higher education is gaining prominence alongside Uttarakhand's established school education system. Sachin Ghai, Associate Professor at Graphic Era University, noted that Dehradun, traditionally known for elite boarding schools, is now making its mark in higher education as well.
Throughout the conclave, themes spanning nature-led tourism to AI governance reinforced a unified message: Uttarakhand's next developmental phase will be characterized by innovation, ecological stewardship and inclusive growth, positioning the state as a model for sustainable regional development.
