SRINAGAR: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the 2026 Budget, announced plans to develop ecologically sustainable mountain trains and hiking trails in key hill regions, including Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Araku Valley, and Pudigai Malai.
The government will also introduce wildlife tourism trails, featuring turtle nesting routes in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala, and bird-watching paths around Pulicat Lake. “India can offer world-class trekking and hiking experiences,” Sitharaman said.
The Budget further promotes environmentally sustainable transport with seven high-speed rail corridors connecting major cities, new dedicated freight corridors, and 20 operational national waterways over the next five years, aiming to cut travel times, reduce emissions, and strengthen connectivity across economic hubs.
