Jharkhand has begun setting up a project management unit to plan and implement eco-tourism projects in forest areas, as the Jharkhand Eco Tourism Authority issued a request for proposal on Tuesday to bring in technical and strategic support for the state’s tourism expansion.
The proposed PMU will help the authority identify eco-tourism destinations, prepare master plans and develop a pipeline of investment-ready projects linked to forests, wildlife habitats, waterfalls and tribal cultural heritage. The initiative is also intended to support private investment through public-private partnership models.
According to the RFP, the PMU will function as the technical and strategic support arm of the Jharkhand Eco Tourism Authority, or JETA. Its responsibilities will include designing PPP frameworks, supporting procurement processes and engaging with potential investors interested in tourism infrastructure and services.
The authority said the proposed framework would move Jharkhand away from isolated tourism projects towards an integrated and professionally managed eco-tourism ecosystem. The PMU will be required to assist with destination planning, tourism product development, funding identification, branding and marketing of the state’s eco-tourism offerings.
Environmental and community-related assessments are also central to the proposed assignment. The selected consultant will support carrying-capacity studies, environmental assessments and infrastructure gap analyses before projects are developed in ecologically sensitive areas. These studies are intended to assess how much tourism activity locations can accommodate and what infrastructure gaps must be addressed without adversely affecting local ecosystems.
The RFP also requires stakeholder consultations with local communities and government departments. The PMU will help build local capacity through training and awareness programmes, making community participation part of the proposed planning and implementation process rather than treating tourism development solely as an investment exercise.
The assignment is expected to be supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes tourism experts, architects, engineers, procurement specialists and district-level consultants. This structure is designed to connect destination planning with project design, procurement and district-level implementation.
The PMU is proposed for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of a one-year extension based on performance. During this period, the consultant will be expected to help JETA develop projects, identify funding sources and support the authority in taking tourism proposals through planning and implementation stages.
The RFP does not specify the number, location or investment value of the projects that will eventually be developed. Those details are expected to emerge through destination identification, master planning, environmental assessments and consultations with communities and government departments under the proposed PMU framework.
