Union Budget 2026–27 Puts Araku, Pulicat on National Eco-Tourism Map
ASR district collector Dinesh Kumar said the project is already under way, with plans to develop double-line mountain trails
Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a major destination in the national ecotourism push under the Union Budget 2026–27, with Araku Valley and Pulicat Lake earmarked for dedicated development. This is as part of a broader sustainability-led framework.
Araku Valley, long celebrated for its coffee plantations, tribal culture and lush green terrain, is set to be developed into a structured trekking and hiking hub. The Centre has announced the creation of ecological mountain trails in the region, placing it alongside the premium destinations corridor.
Officials said the project would prioritize sustainable infrastructure, regulated tourist access and local employment.
Tribal communities in the Agency areas of north Andhra Pradesh are expected to play a central role as guides, operators and stakeholders in the ecotourism value chain.
ASR district collector Dinesh Kumar said the project is already under way, with plans to develop double-line mountain trails. The initiative would “help ease road congestion while significantly boosting tourism in the region.”
The collector said the existing Visakhapatnam–Kirandul mountain rail route, which winds through tunnels and bridges, has already been instrumental in boosting tourist inflow into the Araku region.
"The Vistadome coaches can also become multifaceted, and tourism, for sure, will be boosted," he said.
A railway official said three Vistadome coaches operate daily between Visakhapatnam and Araku, running at full capacity. The service departs Visakhapatnam at 6:30 am and arrives in Araku at 10:30 am. The return journey begins at 4 pm from Araku, reaching Visakhapatnam at 8:30 pm.
Additionally, the government has announced that Pulicat Lake, which straddles the AP-Tamil Nadu border, has been identified for the development of bird-watching trails on both sides of the state boundary.
Pulicat Lake is the nation’s second-largest brackish water lagoon, roughly 60 km north of Chennai. The initiative is aimed at promoting nature-based tourism, protecting migratory bird habitats, and creating supplementary livelihoods for local fishing and coastal communities.
