Guruprasad Mohapatra passes away

AHMEDABAD: “We lost Guru. We lost a true friend, an innovator, a problem solver and an administrative reformer,” exclaimed a senior IAS official who attended the last rites on Saturday of the 1986 batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer and DPIIT secretary

Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra.

He was heading the empowered group and was managing the entire oxygen supply logistics across the country during the Covid second wave till he was admitted on April 19. He passed away due to Covid related complications at AIIMS and was cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium in New Delhi. He was 59 years. Prior to taking over as DPIIT secretary, Mohapatra served as chairman of Airports Authority of India.

Mohapatra began his career as an assistant collector in Surendranagar in 1986 and was then posted as DDO Junagadh.

“During these years, Guru honed his skill at developing administrative tools to solve governance issues,” says member Lokpal IP Gautam, who was Mohapatra’s batchmate.

After his brief stint at GIDC, Mohapatra was one of the key members in restructuring of Gujarat Electricity Board into different entities between 2002 and 2004. As Surat civic chief, he streamlined solid waste management and urban governance. As transport commissioner, Mohapatra drew the roadmap for phasewise CNG-fication of public transport in major Gujarat cities.

But it was during his 3.5 year stint as Ahmedabad civic chief that he put many of his ideas into action — from setting the ground for the Unesco World Heritage City nomination, completing major portion of BRT, Kankaria lakefront and Sabarmati riverfront projects, to putting the metro rail project on fast track to setting the ground work for SVP Hospital.

“AMC still follows the road quality audits, concept of model roads and the roadmap for zero-waste city,” says a senior AMC official. CM Vijay Rupani also took to Twitter to express condolences and said the state has lost an able officer. “His contribution to all sectors in Gujarat, be it urban development, industries or commercial taxes has been significant. He was a hard-working, innovative and team person. His work will continue to inspire us,” said Anil Mukim, chief secretary.