Jaipur, March 11 -- The Rajasthan government on Tuesday informed the assembly that the proposed Kumbhalgarh Tiger Reserve has moved a step closer to notification, with two new safari routes proposed and additional routes under consideration for a dedicated panther safari to boost eco-tourism and local employment. Responding to questions by MLA Harisingh Rawat (Bhim), forest minister of state Sanjay Sharma said that in-principle approval for declaring the proposed tiger reserve - comprising the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajsamand and the Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary in Beawar - was granted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority on August 24, 2023, after clearance by its technical committee earlier that month. Sharma said an 11-member expert committee was constituted on July 24, 2024, to demarcate the critical tiger habitat and buffer areas. The panel submitted its report on October 24, 2024, which was later discussed in a state wildlife board meeting chaired by the chief minister on June 23, 2025. Following approval of the expert committee's recommendations on October 11, 2025, the core area proposal was sent to the Centre. After objections were raised by the NTCA, the state submitted a compliance report on February 24, 2026. The NTCA has recommended increasing the width of the proposed reserve, and land has been identified in Rajsamand, Pali and Beawar districts for the expansion. The forest department has written to the revenue department for transfer of the identified land. On tourism development, the minister said that since the tiger reserve has not yet been formally notified, no official assessment of tourism growth has been conducted. However, Sharma highlighted that existing safari routes are operational in the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary and the Todgarh-Aravalli region. He announced that two new safari routes - Kalighat to Bheelberi and Phulas to Goram Ghat - have been proposed. In addition, the government is open to exploring routes for a dedicated panther safari, with the minister inviting suggestions from legislators and assuring feasibility studies before opening new safari gates. He said that once tiger reserve status is granted, tourist footfall is expected to increase significantly....