The Government of Gujarat has appointed Mr. Ashwini Kumar, a 1997-batch IAS officer, as Principal Secretary, Ports & Transport Department, in addition to his existing role as Principal Secretary, Urban Development & Urban Housing Department.
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With 28 years of experience in public administration, infrastructure planning, and policy execution, Mr. Kumar has held key positions across multiple departments in Gujarat. His tenure at the Chief Minister’s Office played a crucial role in policy formulation, urban governance, and infrastructure development.
His additional charge comes at a time when Gujarat’s maritime sector is focusing on infrastructure expansion, multimodal transport integration, and sustainable port operations, aligning with the Vision 2047 roadmap. His expertise in urban governance and large-scale infrastructure projects is expected to enhance port infrastructure and logistics networks.
An alumnus of IIT Kanpur (B.Tech in Chemical Engineering) and King’s College London (Master’s in Public Services, Policy & Management), Mr. Kumar also serves as Chairman of Gujarat Urban Development Company Limited and Urban Ring Development Corporation Limited. He is a Nominee Director on the boards of GIFT City Company Limited, Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Diamond Research and Mercantile City Limited, Gujarat Town Planning Consultancy Limited, and Gujarat Sports Infrastructure Development Company (GSIDE).
His appointment is expected to strengthen infrastructure coordination, maritime policies, and transport strategies, contributing to Gujarat’s port and logistics sector growth.
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