LUCKNOW:, Feb. 10 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the private sector's participation should be increased for developing eco-tourism in the state. He was chairing a meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board. "The state's rich biodiversity, forest areas and natural heritage hold immense potential for eco-tourism, which needs to be systematically developed on the ground," he said. He directed that a comprehensive and time-bound action plan should be prepared to develop eco-tourism in Uttar Pradesh, positioning it as a key pillar of employment generation, environmental conservation and economic growth. Quality hotels, standard restaurants, comfortable accommodation facilities and modern infrastructure should be developed at select eco-tourism sites for tourists, he said, according to a press statement issued by the state government. "Promising areas such as Kusumhi Forest in Gorakhpur, Kumarganj area in Ayodhya, Kamakhya Forest Park in Ghazipur and Maheshpur Range in Lakhimpur Kheri should be developed through the PPP model," he added. Weekend AC bus services should be operated between Lucknow-Palia and New Delhi-Palia, he said. He also directed the launch of regional bus services for Pilibhit-Mailani-Bahraich. In 2025-26, a total of 31 new projects have been proposed across districts. htc...