State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 22 Nov 2025

Vistadome Jungle Safari at Dudhwa National Park

Why in News?

The Vistadome jungle safari train on the Mailani–Bichia route has seen a sharp rise in tourist footfall, boosting eco-tourism in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

Key Points

• About Vistadome Railways:
  • The Vistadome safari started in May 2024, operating on the 107-km Mailani–Bichia narrow-gauge route.
  • Coaches have large glass windows, transparent roofs, and 360° viewing, offering immersive views of forests, wetlands, and wildlife.
  • The UP Eco-Tourism Board is using the train for weekly educational nature tours for students.
    
• About Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR):
  • It is situated in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh and comprises Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • It represents the classic Terai-Bhabar ecosystem, marked by rich sal forests, tall elephant grasses, wetlands, and marshes, making it one of India’s most productive wildlife habitats.
  • It hosts a high density of tigers, along with Asian elephants, one of the last surviving populations of swamp deer (barasingha), sarus cranes, gharials, and Gangetic dolphins.
  • It also forms part of the India–Nepal transboundary conservation landscape, serving as a crucial corridor for tiger and elephant movement between the two countries.

Yamuna Belt Drinking Water Project

Why in News?

The Agra Municipal Corporation has begun the implementation of the Yamuna Belt Drinking Water Project, which will supply clean, treated drinking water across several water-scarce localities in Agra.

Key Points

• About the Project:
  • The project aims to provide continuous access to potable water to households in areas chronically affected by shortage, including Kheria Mod, Sadar Bhatti, Nunhai, and parts of Trans-Yamuna Agra.
  • Water will be sourced from the Keetham Lake (Sur Sarovar) canal system, treated at a new water treatment facility, and then supplied through an upgraded distribution network.
  • The scheme involves laying new pipelines, repairing old ones, setting up overhead tanks, and ensuring last-mile connectivity for households lacking individual water connections.
• About Keetham Lake:
  • Keetham Lake, also known as Sur Sarovar, is a man-made lake on the Agra–Delhi NH-2 corridor, created as a reservoir for the Agra Canal.
  • It is part of the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is a Ramsar Site.