Bihar Approves Upgrades to Forest and Eco-Tourism Infrastructure | 29 Nov 2025
Why in News?
The Bihar government has approved ₹10 crore for a series of forest infrastructure and eco-tourism improvement projects across multiple districts, aiming to strengthen conservation, visitor facilities, and forest protection mechanisms.
Key Points
- About Forest Infrastructure Projects:
- The funding will support upgradation of forest roads, rest houses, interpretation centres, and watchtowers, particularly in Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest areas of Rohtas and Kaimur.
- A major focus is improving patrolling tracks, anti-poaching infrastructure, and rapid response capacity for forest staff.
- Funds are allocated for digital monitoring systems, camera-based surveillance, and establishment of new field stations to support wildlife protection.
- About Eco-Tourism Development:
- The plan aims to strengthen eco-tourism around key sites such as Valmikinagar, Kaimur hills, and Rohtas plateau, including upgrades in visitor amenities, signage and interpretation, nature trails, and eco-friendly cottages and solar-based facilities.
- The government intends to promote community-managed eco-tourism, involving local forest-fringe villages for livelihood generation.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR)
- Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) is located in Bihar’s West Champaran district in the Terai region, and is a major eco-tourism and biodiversity hotspot.
- The reserve lies along the India–Nepal border and directly adjoins Chitwan National Park, forming an important transboundary conservation landscape.
- Its river systems are dominated by the Gandak (Narayani) River, which create extensive floodplain grasslands, sal forests and Terai wetlands.
- The vegetation comprises moist deciduous forests, riverine forests, savannah-like grasslands.
- The reserve supports species such as tigers, leopards, Indian gaur, sloth bears, sambar, chital, hog deer, hyenas and even Gangetic dolphins in suitable river stretches.