The Corbett Tiger Reserve and Rajaji National Park were reopened for tourists on Friday.
Following the detrimental effect of the June disaster on tourism in Uttarakhand, the reopening of Corbett and Rajaji is being seen as a welcome development by the authorities and locals involved in tourism activities. Corbett deputy director Dr Saket Badola said that all zones of Corbett were opened to tourists on Friday.
Following the damage caused by the disaster experienced in Uttarakhand in June, the Jhirna range had been closed for about two and half months. After repair of the damage, this and other ranges were opened to tourists, he said. Meanwhile, some members of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal demonstrated in support of the demand for construction of the Kandi Road which passes through Corbett and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary to link Garhwal with Kumaon.
At Rajaj, the gate to Chilla range was unlocked by a tourist in the presence of Rajaj deputy director HK Singh and other officials along with tourists and school children.
The national park authorities have for the first time equipped Gypsy jeeps with RTO permits ferrying tourists inside the national park with wireless communication.