Bihar’s Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Ram Chandra Prasad on Monday (July 13, 2026) inaugurated “Ecotourism Investors Meet-2026,” which was organised to boost ecotourism with the participation of private investors in the state.
A day-long investors’ meet was organised at a city hotel, which was attended by potential investors from across the country who are likely to make investments in different ecotourism destinations of the State.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prasad assured the investors that the state government is committed to extend all possible help to them (investors). “The state government is committed to cooperate and help in every possible manner in resolving their (investors’) grievances and problems,” Mr. Prasad said.
“Come (and invest) and be the part of a rapidly growing state of Bihar,” he said while adding that the investors meet is being organised under the able and efficient guidance of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Giving a broad outline of the purpose of the meet, Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Anand Kishor asked the “investors to raise their points and give their suggestions during the meet. The RFP (for developing ecotourism destinations) that has been uploaded on the website or published in the newspapers is not a “final one”. We will prepare an RFP following your suggestions.”
Stating that the department will prepare an investor-friendly policy to provide facilities to investors, Mr. Kishor said that a person investing should adopt it as a “profession”.
The state government has initiated a slew of schemes to promote both tourism and ecotourism in the state, and this “investors meet” is one among the several such initiatives meant to promote ecotourism.
The investors aim to develop ecotourism destinations of the state through Public Private Partnership (PPP) on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis with the support of Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
Stating that the department has opened several ecotourism sites which have been divided into two groups for their development as tourist destinations, Mr. Kishor said that Group A includes 29 “Reservoir-based ecotourism projects” while 247 projects include ponds, lakes, wetlands, and other water bodies in Group B.
For Group A projects, a minimum annual turnover of Rs 10 crore per site is mandatory. In cases where an investor opts for multiple sites, the turnover requirement will increase proportionately, with an upper limit of ₹50 crore.
For Group B projects, the minimum annual turnover requirement is ₹2 crore per site, with a maximum cap of ₹10 crore.
Adventure sports and water sports be developed at the important ecotourism destinations that attract tourists in big numbers, Mr. Kishor said, adding that the department has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) to provide facilities and develop sites with the help of private players.
An RFP (Request for Proposal) has already been issued for an ecotourism project at Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, with the submission deadline set for July 28.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, investors and participants, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Arvinder Singh said that the department is promoting private investment through the PPP model.
Selected investors will be offered project sites on a 30-year lease, he said, adding that financial support will be extended through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to ensure the financial viability of eligible projects.
Asserting that there is huge potential for ecotourism in Bihar, Mr. Singh said that several infrastructure facilities have been developed in several ecotourism destinations such as Karamchat dam in Rohtas, Mundeshwari in Kaimur, Zoo safari, nature safari, ropeway in Nalanda, Kakolat waterfall in Nawada. Tourist footfalls have been much higher in these places, he added.
More than ₹500 crore has been spent in the past few years for the development of ecotourism sites in Bihar, Mr. Singh said, adding that the government has proposed the development of ecotourism destinations through PPP mode.
Published – July 14, 2026 04:00 am IST
