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Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Sunday, February 1, that the government will build ecologically sustainable and world class hiking and trekking trails across different mountain regions in the country.
"India has the potential and opportunity to offer world class trekking and hiking experience," FM Sitharaman said while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament.
"We will develop ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir," Sitharaman added.
The Finance Minister further stated that the government will also build such trails in the Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the
Western Ghats.
Read more: Budget 2026 Live Updates
The Finance Minister also announced that the government will develop "Turtle Trails" along key nesting sites in the coastal areas of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala.
Bird watching trails along the Pulikat lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will also be developed, Sitharaman said.
FM Sitharaman further announced that the government aims to boost the tourism sector through promoting medical, heritage and cultural tourism.
The FM said that the government is going to launch a scheme to support states in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs, in partnership with the private sector.
Sitharaman also proposed development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur, creation of five tourism destinations in the five Purvodaya States, and the provision of 4,000 e-buses.
Read more: Budget 2026: Govt to borrow record ₹17.2 lakh crore from markets in FY27
To further enhance the cultural tourism, the FM announced the development of 15 archeological sites including Lothal, Dholavia, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh Palace into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations.
Further, a scheme for development of Buddhist Circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura would also be launched, she added.
"India has the potential and opportunity to offer world class trekking and hiking experience," FM Sitharaman said while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament.
"We will develop ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir," Sitharaman added.
The Finance Minister further stated that the government will also build such trails in the Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the
Western Ghats.
Read more: Budget 2026 Live Updates
The Finance Minister also announced that the government will develop "Turtle Trails" along key nesting sites in the coastal areas of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala.
Bird watching trails along the Pulikat lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will also be developed, Sitharaman said.
Boosting India's tourism sector
FM Sitharaman further announced that the government aims to boost the tourism sector through promoting medical, heritage and cultural tourism.
The FM said that the government is going to launch a scheme to support states in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs, in partnership with the private sector.
Sitharaman also proposed development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur, creation of five tourism destinations in the five Purvodaya States, and the provision of 4,000 e-buses.
Read more: Budget 2026: Govt to borrow record ₹17.2 lakh crore from markets in FY27
To further enhance the cultural tourism, the FM announced the development of 15 archeological sites including Lothal, Dholavia, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh Palace into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations.
Further, a scheme for development of Buddhist Circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura would also be launched, she added.
