Patna: The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Sunday held an investors’ meeting in Patna to discuss large-scale ecotourism development projects across Bihar, including plans to develop tourism infrastructure at dam sites, ponds and forest-linked destinations through private sector participation.
The meeting, organised at Aranya Bhawan and chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Anand Kishor, brought together investors, tourism stakeholders and industry representatives to deliberate on Bihar’s ecotourism potential and future investment opportunities.
Bihar Identifies 27 Dam Sites and 247 Waterbodies
During the meeting, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (HOFF) Arvinder Singh said the department had already placed the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Bhimbandh ecotourism project in the public domain.
He further announced that the department had issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) covering:
- 27 dam sites
- 247 ponds and waterbody locations
The state government plans to invite private investors to develop ecotourism infrastructure at these locations on a large scale.
Projects to Be Developed Under BOT Model
Officials said the proposed projects would be developed under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model with participation from private players.
According to the department, the objective is to establish world-class tourism infrastructure while maintaining environmental and ecological standards.
Authorities said the initiative aims to:
- Promote sustainable tourism
- Increase tourist footfall
- Generate local employment
- Encourage environmentally responsible infrastructure development
Department Plans Wider Industry Outreach
Officials said the meeting was organised to familiarise investors and stakeholders with the recently released RFP and EOI documents.
Discussions also focused on preparations for a larger meeting scheduled for June 9 involving:
- Industry associations
- Chambers of Commerce
- Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- Major investors and hospitality groups
The department appealed to private investors to actively participate in Bihar’s emerging ecotourism sector.
Investors and Hospitality Representatives Attend
Among those present at the meeting were representatives from industry bodies, hospitality groups and architecture firms, including:
- Anil Kumar
- Shobhit Raj
- S P Sinha
- Richa Sinha
- Manikant
- Manish Kumar
Officials said around 25 investors and office-bearers from various organisations attended the consultation.
Focus on Sustainable Tourism Growth
Senior department officials, including representatives from the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation and the Bihar Ecotourism Development Society, also participated in the discussions.
The meeting reflects Bihar’s broader attempt to position itself as an emerging ecotourism destination by leveraging forests, waterbodies and natural landscapes while attracting private investment into sustainable tourism infrastructure.
