From red corridor to green trails: Bastar’s Indravati Tiger Reserve set to reopen after yrs

Raipur: With Maoist activity declining in Bastar, Indravati Tiger Reserve is set to reopen to tourists, marking a shift from years of conflict towards conservation and eco-tourism For years, the reserve remained out of bounds due to the threat posed by Left-Wing Extremism, which restricted both administrative access and eco-tourism activities. However, with the Maoist problem now significantly contained following sustained security operations and development outreach, authorities are focusing on unlocking the ecological and tourism potential of the region. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Arun Kumar Pandey said the department is implementing a comprehensive eco-tourism plan aimed at balancing conservation with community participation. A major component of the initiative is the development of a "tourism village" along the Indravati riverbank, designed to offer visitors an immersive experience of local tribal culture and the forest landscape. The reserve, known for being one of the last natural habitats of the endangered wild water buffalo. The reopening of the reserve is being seen as both an ecological milestone and a symbol of normalcy returning to a region long affected by insurgency. One entry point to the Indravati Tiger Reserve will be developed along the Kutru–Farsegarh route, while another has been proposed via Bhopalpatnam–Mattimarka da, the PCCF said. "We are preparing the youths of Mattimarka village at ITR and providing them with proper training to help promote tourism and the local economy," the PCCF said. ITR Deputy Director Sundeep Balaga said, "As the threat of Naxals has now reduced, we have initiated the process of developing facilities for tourists."