The Uttarakhand cabinet has approved a policy change allowing resorts to be built on agricultural land without requiring formal land-use conversion. The move aims to simplify approvals and attract fresh investment into the state's tourism and hospitality sector. By easing regulatory hurdles, the government hopes to encourage new resort and leisure projects, create local jobs and expand tourism beyond traditional hill stations. Officials said the decision supports plans to develop high-end hospitality offerings while leveraging Uttarakhand's natural landscapes. The policy includes safeguards to protect agricultural productivity and environmental balance, with projects required to follow specific guidelines and impact assessments. The change marks a key step in making Uttarakhand a more competitive and investor-friendly tourism destination.
The Uttarakhand cabinet has approved a significant policy shift allowing resort construction on agricultural land without requiring a formal land-use change. The decision, taken earlier this week, is intended to streamline regulatory processes and attract fresh investment into the state's tourism and hospitality sector.
Under the revised framework, developers seeking to build resorts or hospitality properties in designated rural and scenic locations will be able to proceed without the lengthy and often complex land-use conversion clearances that typically apply to farmland. By reducing procedural barriers, the government aims to encourage new projects that can deliver employment, enhance tourism infrastructure and leverage the state's natural beauty.
Officials said the relaxation comes as part of a broader strategy to diversify Uttarakhand's tourism offerings beyond traditional hill-station attractions, creating avenues for high-end hospitality developments, leisure centres and integrated resort complexes. The approach is expected to draw interest from both domestic and national investors looking to capitalise on rising travel demand across north India.
The cabinet's decision stipulates that resorts built under this provision must adhere to specified guidelines to protect agricultural productivity and environmental integrity. Authorities emphasised that permitted developments will need to ensure that farmland is not permanently lost to non-agricultural use and that impact assessments are completed prior to construction.
The cabinet's approval marks a notable step in the state's tourism policy evolution one that seeks to make Uttarakhand more competitive as a destination while aligning development incentives with investor expectations and rural economic opportunities.
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