Funds will be disbursed through Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and will be utilized for providing various advanced amenities and development at all the tourist places across the state, said the State Tourism Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal.
He said that the government is celebrating this year as ‘Tourism Year’. A District Level Master Plan for tourism: MTDC has taken a decision to prepare a Master Plan for tourism in each district. Proposal in this regard will be prepared by Collector with the cooperation of MTDC. In first phase Rs five lakh will be given for each district. A total of Rs 2 crore have been approved for this scheme. The untapped tourist places so far would also be tapped.
In order to attract more and more tourists, the government has approved Rs 50 cr for the development of improving basic amenities of tourist places like fort circuit, Elephanta caves, Ashtavinayak temples, Loni, Raigad, Lonar Lake premises, Buddhist Caves. A provision for the security at beaches covering the 720km coastline area in the state has also been made by the government said the tourism minister. He further added that the funds would be allocated through Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).
The tourism projects that would be included in Rs. 50 Cr are development of Fort Circuit, including Shivneri- Torna-Sinhagad-Lohagad, for which a provision of Rs. 10 Cr has been made.
The Lonar lake premises development which is world famous for being the natural crater, a provision of Rs. 10 Cr has been approved for its security and conservation. The renowned religious places of Ashtavinayak will be developed with facilities like road connectivity and many rooms for accommodation.
Mr. bhujbal added that Maharashtra has several Buddhist caves which are visited by national & international tourists. A provision of Rs. 5 Cr has been approved for its development, repairs and maintenance. A provision of Rs. 2.50 Cr has been approved for improving the Elephanta caves by through public amenities, adding more floating jetties, guiding maps and creating new information centres.
Indicator and guideline boards: Special permission has been accorded to MTDC to erect indicators and guideline boards near all main roads of tourist places. For this Rs five crore have been approved for MTDC.
Maharashtra has a long coastline of 720 km. In order to safeguard Scenic tourist places like Tarkarli, Ganpatipule, Harihareshwar, Bordi and Murud-Janjira, a provision for Rs. 1.50 Cr for advanced security measures in these places has been made, informed the Tourism Minister.