The Government of Gujarat has appointed Shri Ashwini Kumar, IAS, as the Principal Secretary, Ports & Transport Department, in addition to his regular charge as Principal Secretary, Urban Development & Urban Housing Department.
A 1997-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre with nearly 28 years of experience in public administration, infrastructure planning and policy execution, Shri Kumar has served in various capacities across multiple departments of the Government of Gujarat. His tenure at the Chief Minister’s Office in the Government of Gujarat was instrumental in policy formulation, infrastructure development and urban governance.
His additional charge comes at a time when Gujarat’s maritime sector is emphasizing infrastructure expansion, multimodal transport integration and sustainable port operations, while also advancing the Vision 2047 roadmap unveiled by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat. His experience in urban governance and large-scale infrastructure projects is expected to support efforts to enhance Gujarat’s port infrastructure and logistics networks.
Shri Kumar holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and a Master’s Degree in Public Services, Policy & Management from King’s College, London.
He also serves as the Chairman of Gujarat Urban Development Company Limited and Urban Ring Development Corporation Limited. Additionally, he is a Nominee Director on the boards of several key organizations, including 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).
With ongoing developments in Gujarat’s port sector, including projects such as the International Port City and integrated logistics planning, his appointment is expected to strengthen the coordination of infrastructure, maritime and transport policies, contributing to the state’s maritime growth.
