Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya graduates 121 students, honours Metro Man E. Sreedharan with first honorary PhD
The Central University under the Ministry of Railways also launched its first MBA in Metro Rail Management and has now trained over 2.4 lakh government officers under the PM Gati
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, along with MP Hemang Joshi, Rajmata of Baroda Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, Tata Advanced Systems CEO & MD Sukaran Singh, GSV Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj Choudhary and other dignitaries at the fourth convocation of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya held in Vadodara on July 17, 2026.
VADODARA: Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), India’s first transport and logistics-focused Central University, celebrated its fourth convocation by awarding degrees to 121 students across B.Tech. and MBA programmes while conferring its first-ever honorary Ph.D. on renowned engineer E. Sreedharan in recognition of his transformative contribution to India’s transportation infrastructure.
The convocation, held on July 17, was attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu as the chief guest, alongside Member of Parliament Hemang Joshi, Rajmata of Baroda Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, Tata Advanced Systems CEO & MD Sukaran Singh, and GSV Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj Choudhary.
The graduating batch included students from engineering and management programmes, with the university awarding its first MBA degree in Metro Rail Management. Gold medals for academic excellence were presented to Vivek Yadav, Sandeep Patel, Abhinandan Gupta, Rishav Tripathi and Suresh Sengundarmudliyar. Durgesh Kumar and Sandeep Patel received the Outstanding Project Award 2026, while Vivek Kumar was named the Best Graduating Student.
Addressing the graduates, Rammohan Naidu described “Movement, Momentum and Mission” as the three pillars that will drive India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation. He highlighted rapid progress in aviation, PM Gati Shakti and the emerging Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem, saying these sectors would generate significant employment opportunities for skilled professionals. He also praised GSV’s industry-driven academic model and assured the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s continued support for the university.
Receiving the university’s first honorary doctorate, E. Sreedharan urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning and uphold values such as punctuality, integrity, professional competence and strong character. He encouraged students to contribute meaningfully to society while maintaining high ethical standards throughout their careers.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Hemang Joshi noted that the convocation coincided with the launch of India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen-powered train, calling it a symbolic moment for students entering the transportation sector. He also commended the university’s 100% placement record and reminded graduates that the degree marked the beginning of their professional journey rather than its culmination.
Established through an Act of Parliament in December 2022 under the Ministry of Railways, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya offers specialised programmes spanning rail, aviation, maritime, logistics, metro rail, ports, shipping and highway engineering. The university has also emerged as a key national training institution, having trained more than 2.4 lakh government officers under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan through its capacity-building programmes.
With an industry-driven curriculum aligned to the National Education Policy 2020 and partnerships across academia and industry, GSV is positioning itself as a specialised institution dedicated to developing the skilled workforce required for India’s expanding transportation and logistics ecosystem.
