Patna: The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department on Thursday organised an eco-tourism investors’ meet at Aranya Bhawan in Patna to explore private sector participation in tourism infrastructure projects across the state.
The meeting, chaired by additional chief secretary Anand Kishore, was attended by around 25 investors and representatives of various organisations.
Officials said the state government had identified 274 locations for potential eco-tourism projects, including 27 dams and 247 ponds and wetland sites.
Focus on public-private partnership
Chief conservator of forests Arvinder Singh said the Bihar Eco Tourism Development Society had been formed to promote eco-tourism initiatives in partnership with private investors.
He said several locations across Bihar had been shortlisted for development as eco-tourism destinations in the coming years.
“The purpose of the investors’ meet is to encourage private sector participation in eco-tourism projects in Bihar,” Singh said.
Projects to follow BOT model
Officials said the government planned to develop the identified sites with infrastructure aligned to prescribed standards and tourism requirements.
The projects are expected to be implemented under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, allowing private entities to develop and manage facilities for a specified period before transferring them back to the government.
Larger workshop planned in June
The department is also preparing for a larger workshop scheduled for June 9 to engage industry associations, chambers of commerce, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) representatives and major investors.
Officials said the workshop would focus on investment opportunities, project frameworks and long-term development plans for eco-tourism in Bihar.
