Investment & Development
Chhattisgarh Forest Department Unveils Rs 550-Crore Eco-Tourism PPP Plan for Nava Raipur Botanical Garden and Nandan-Van
As of July 2026: The Chhattisgarh Forest and Climate Change Department has unveiled a blueprint for a Rs 550-crore Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to redevelop the 350-acre Botanical Garden near Jungle Safari, Nava Raipur, and the 43-acre Nandan-Van at Village Atari on the Raipur-Bhilai Road into world-class nature tourism destinations. The proposal was presented during an investors' meet chaired by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Arun Kumar Pandey (IFS).
| Total investment | Rs 550 crore (Rs 500 crore Botanical Garden + Rs 50 crore Nandan-Van) |
|---|---|
| Botanical Garden site area | 350 acres, near Jungle Safari, Nava Raipur |
| Nandan-Van site area | 43 acres, Village Atari, Raipur-Bhilai Road |
| Concession model | 45-year DBFOT (Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer), extendable for another 45 years |
| Developer selection basis | Highest revenue share offered to state; no Viability Gap Funding |
| Land acquisition responsibility | Forest Department bears all land acquisition responsibility and risk |
| NRDA approval requirement | Developer must obtain detailed development layout approval from Naya Raipur Development Authority before execution |
| RFP timeline | Expected within 4 to 5 months of July 2026 announcement |
| Current visitor potential | Jungle Safari attracts ~5 lakh annually; Nandan-Van Zoo averaged ~4 lakh annually before 2017 closure |
What Was Announced
The Forest and Climate Change Department proposed a Rs 550-crore PPP comprising Rs 500 crore for the Botanical Garden and Rs 50 crore for Nandan-Van under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model. The two sites—the 350-acre Botanical Garden near Jungle Safari, Nava Raipur, and the 43-acre Nandan-Van at Village Atari—are to be developed into world-class nature tourism destinations.
Who Decided and When
The proposal was presented during an investors' meet chaired by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Arun Kumar Pandey (IFS). The projects have been conceptualized in line with the vision of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and under the guidance of Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap. The announcement was made on 7 July 2026.
Financial Structure and Risk Allocation
The Government has ruled out Viability Gap Funding (VGF), making it a fully private-capital initiative, with developers to be selected solely on the basis of the highest revenue share offered to the State. The responsibility for land acquisition and securing the required land for both projects, including the portion at Nandan-Van earlier identified as 'under acquisition', will remain entirely with the Forest Department, insulating private bidders from acquisition-related risks.
Governance and Approvals
After the Forest Department grants construction rights to the selected concessionaire, the developer will be required to obtain approval of the detailed development layout from the Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) before execution. The Request for Proposal (RFP) is expected to be floated within four to five months.
Design Inspiration and Global Models
The concept draws upon internationally recognised ecotourism destinations, including Indonesia's Bogor Botanical Gardens, Seychelles National Botanical Garden and Karnataka's Brindavan Garden, while adapting global best practices to Chhattisgarh's ecological landscape.
Current Tourism Potential
Jungle Safari presently attracts nearly five lakh visitors annually, while Nandan-Van Zoo received around four lakh visitors every year before its closure in 2017, indicating strong tourism potential after redevelopment.
Proposed Attractions and Features
Several attractions have been proposed as part of the master plan, including: Eco-friendly luxury hotel resorts Military Heritage Museum Musical fountain shows Water-world attractions Nature-based adventure and recreational facilities Landscaped gardens and thematic ecological zones. Nandan-Van redevelopment plan includes: a state-of-the-art aviary housing exotic bird species Ayurveda wellness and herbal treatment centre Herbal products and medicinal plant gallery Open-air cultural and event venue Children's sports and recreation zone Modern visitor facilities Improved landscaping and green spaces.
Community and Local Economy
The project has been designed to balance ecological conservation with sustainable tourism and community participation would be encouraged through marketplaces for Bastar art, forest produce, organic farm products and local artisans, although no formal equity or revenue-sharing mechanism has been proposed.
What Comes Next
The investors' interaction witnessed participation from several prominent developers, hospitality groups and infrastructure firms, including Bhutani Infra, Noida represented by Aswani Chaitley; Singhania Buildcon led by Uday Raj Singhania; Maira Industries represented by Shubham Goyal; representatives of Shalimar Corp Ltd, the Avinash Group, industrialist Vivek Agarwal of Raipur, Gagandeep of Grand Imperia Hotel, Ritesh Agarwal, Avdesh Shukla of the Babylon Group, besides several other leading business groups from Chhattisgarh. Following the investor presentations and site tours, the Forest Department is preparing the formal RFP document for release within 4–5 months (by November–December 2026).
Development phases
Frequently asked questions
Why is the government pursuing a PPP model for these sites?
The large-scale initiative is designed to combine environmental conservation with sustainable tourism, private investment, local employment and cultural promotion.
How are land acquisition risks managed for private developers?
The responsibility for land acquisition and securing the required land for both projects, including the portion at Nandan-Van earlier identified as 'under acquisition', will remain entirely with the Forest Department, insulating private bidders from acquisition-related risks.
What approval processes must the winning developer follow?
After the Forest Department grants construction rights to the selected concessionaire, the developer will be required to obtain approval of the detailed development layout from the Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) before execution.
How will developers be selected?
Developers will be selected solely on the basis of the highest revenue share offered to the State, with no Viability Gap Funding.
What is the size comparison of the proposed botanical garden?
The proposed 350-acre botanical garden, if completed as planned, would be larger in area than the 326-acre Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London and the 273-acre Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Kolkata.
Who attended the investors' presentation meeting?
The investors' interaction witnessed participation from several prominent developers, hospitality groups and infrastructure firms, including Bhutani Infra, Singhania Buildcon, Shalimar Corp Ltd, the Avinash Group, and the Babylon Group, besides several other leading business groups from Chhattisgarh.
Sources
- Rs 550 cr eco-tourism PPP planned in Nava Raipur
- Chhattisgarh Plans ₹550 Crore Botanical Garden Project Near Naya Raipur Jungle Safari
- Chhattisgarh: 350-Acre World-Class Botanical Garden Set To Be Developed Along With Redevelopment of Nandan-Van
- Chhattisgarh launches landmark PPP initiative to boost global ecotourism
- Arun Kumar Pandey Appointed PCCF of Chhattisgarh