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The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) plans to spend around Rs 95 crore to boost tourism by providing more facilities at dams, waterfalls, and religious sites, along with improving access roads.
“Few locations have already emerged as tourist destinations due to their natural beauty and religious importance. The PMRDA has decided to develop them as proper tourist destinations with basic facilities and safety measures, considering their potential for economic activities in the metropolitan region,” said Prabhakar Vasikar, superintending engineer of the PMRDA.
The PMRDA will develop a beach at Khadakwasla Dam, which has become a popular tourist destination. As a safety precaution, they will install protective chain-link fencing along the road from Khadakwasla Dam to the National Defence Academy (NDA) road.
Also, the Rehe lake in Mulshi will be developed through the installation of railings, beautification efforts, and the provision of parking and seating arrangements, said Vasikar.
The Palse waterfall in Mulshi will have protective fencing, an approach ramp, railings, and landslide protection nets installed, he added.
“The PMRDA will spend Rs 5 crore for the development of the tourist spots and Rs 51 crore for the roads to the tourist places from Pune city. However, this is the start of developing a tourist destination and later would include many other potential tourist destinations,” he said.
He said the forts across the Pune district are a major attraction for tourists, so access roads of 5.5 metres in width and a length of 6.5 km to Tikona Fort, 4 km to Tung Fort, 5 km to Lohgad Fort, and 14 km to Rajmachi Fort will be developed to ensure smooth traffic flow.
A 14-km-long, 7-metre-wide road in Tamhini Ghat, along with a 2.1-km road leading to Shri Satya Sai Pandurang Kshetra at Hadshi, will be developed for the convenience of tourists, he added.
Pune has several religious places where devotees gather in large numbers. “If good civic facilities are provided at the religious places, then it will encourage more visitors and boost economic activities. Thus, the PMRDA will provide a solar system, parking space, shelter shed, drinking water facility, and restrooms in these locations at an expenditure of Rs 25 crore,” said another PMRDA officer.
Some of the temples where development works will begin are:
– Shree Chintamani Ganpati temple in Theur
– Mahadev temple in Hivre
– Shreenath Mhasoba temple in Kodit
– Ekveera Devi temple in Maval
– Shree Mahaganpati temple in Ranjangaon
– Malaidevi temple in Shirur
– Baneshwar Mahadev temple in Nasrapur
– Shree Vitthal temple in Dalimb
The officer said that an 11-km road to the Mahaganpati temple in Ranjagaon and an 800-metre access road to the Baneshwar Mahadev temple in Nasrapur will be developed for Rs 14 crore.
