GPS/GIS Mapping of 100 Major Trekking and Hiking Routes to be Undertaken in Uttarakhand
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Flags Off Survey Team; Offline and Online GPS Navigation App to Enhance Trekker Safety and Navigation
Dehradun, September 18, 2026: Uttarakhand has launched a major technology-driven initiative to strengthen adventure and trekking tourism in the state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday flagged off the campaign team from the Chief Minister’s Camp Office for the GPS/GIS mapping and technical survey of 100 major trekking and hiking routes across Uttarakhand.
Teams constituted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council will conduct ground surveys of the selected routes and prepare detailed GPS/GIS maps. The initiative aims to make trekking routes safer, better organised and more technology-enabled while bringing lesser-known trekking destinations onto the tourism map.
Technology to strengthen trekking tourism and safety
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Uttarakhand has immense potential for adventure and trekking tourism. Along with established trekking destinations, modern technology can play an important role in systematically developing and promoting remote and lesser-known trekking routes.
He said scientific GPS/GIS mapping would help trekkers access essential route-related information and would also strengthen the effectiveness of relief and rescue operations during emergencies.
The Chief Minister reiterated that tourist safety remains a key priority of the state government while expanding tourism activities. He also emphasised the need to ensure that tourism development goes hand in hand with the conservation of Uttarakhand’s sensitive Himalayan ecosystem.
New livelihood opportunities for local communities
The project is expected to boost tourism activity in remote mountainous areas and create new opportunities for local youth in areas such as trekking guides, homestays, porter services and other tourism-related activities.
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure meaningful participation of local communities in the implementation of the project so that the benefits of tourism development reach people living in the surrounding areas.
Offline and online GPS navigation app planned
Tourism Secretary Dheeraj Garbyal said the project will cover GPS/GIS mapping and technical surveys of 100 major trekking and hiking routes in the state.
Based on the mapping exercise, an offline as well as online GPS navigation app will be developed. The offline functionality will enable trekkers to access essential trail and route information even in areas where mobile network connectivity is unavailable.
According to the Tourism Secretary, following successful implementation of the project, Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country to develop an offline and online GPS navigation application covering all 100 mapped trekking routes. The application will not only improve navigation for trekkers but will also be useful for rescue operations during emergencies.
Mapping of camping, sanitation and waste-management locations
The survey will also identify suitable locations for camping sites, dustbins and toilets along the trekking routes. This will support future planning for basic facilities, waste management and environmental conservation along trekking trails.
The Tourism Secretary said safety measures, communication facilities, signages and emergency evacuation arrangements are also important components of the state’s official tourism master plan for trekking routes.
The GPS/GIS mapping initiative is therefore expected to contribute to the development of a safe, sustainable and science-based tourism model in Uttarakhand.
Lesser-known trekking destinations to gain wider recognition
A detailed DPR (Detailed Project Report) and a coffee table book will also be prepared under the project. These initiatives are intended to systematically document lesser-known trekking destinations and help showcase them at national and international levels.
The project will also create a digital database of trekking routes, facilities and potential development areas, supporting more systematic planning for adventure tourism across the Himalayan state.
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.
