Mumbai, May 18 (IANS) Amid ongoing measures aimed at financial prudence due to the West Asia situation, the Maharashtra government on Monday approved development plans worth Rs 993.72 crore for six pilgrimage sites, forts and historical locations across the state.

The funds will be utilised for the preservation and conservation of historical and religious sites as well as for pilgrimage infrastructure development projects.

The approval for the projects and allocation of funds was cleared by the apex committee headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

According to a government release, the projects include Rs 172 crore for Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar Adarsh Gaon Development; Rs 41 crore for conservation of Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s birthplace; Rs 134.80 crore for preservation and conservation of Ajinkyatara Fort; Rs 133 crore for the Sangam Mahuli (Satara) Samadhi Site Conservation Project; Rs 210 crore for the Shri Kshetra Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Development Plan at Ellora; and Rs 301.54 crore for the development of Shri Kshetra Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Temple premises.

Under the development plan for the Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga area, a modern bus station and parking facilities will be constructed, with the work targeted for completion by May 2027.

Various bypass roads and road-widening works will also be undertaken to ease traffic congestion. Roads currently measuring 2.7 metres in width will be widened to seven metres.

The project also includes pedestrian pathways, covered corridors, flooring works, an amphitheatre in the temple premises, a 257-KLD-capacity sewage treatment plant, a new police station and rest house, a substation in the Dimbhe Dam area under future development plans, the launch of a cable car (ropeway) facility, development of MTDC’s Bhimashankar Resort and creation of tourism facilities at Rajapur for devotees and tourists.

Under the development plan for Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s birthplace at Dehu, Bhandara Dongar and surrounding religious and historical sites will be conserved.

The works include road beautification, sanitation systems, drinking water facilities, parking arrangements, accommodation facilities for devotees, establishment of an information centre, green zone conservation in the Bhandara Dongar area, plantation drives and preservation of natural surroundings.

Under the preservation and beautification plan for the historic Ajinkyatara Fort in Satara district, proposed works include a spectator gallery, new pedestrian pathways, landscaping, revival of the Raj Sadar (royal court), conservation of bastions, tourist attractions, an advanced suspension bridge, sanitation blocks and rest houses.

Under the Sangam Mahuli Samadhi site project, the samadhi sites of Maharani Tarabai, Maharani Yesubai and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj will be restored along with landscape development works.

Officials informed the meeting that the area would also be developed as a world-class tourist destination through conservation of the historic Sangameshwar Temple and ghats, along with construction of a new hanging bridge, viewing gallery and modern pathways.

A revised plan has also been prepared for development of the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple at Ellora in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, which includes an additional allocation demand of Rs 53.82 crore.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed officials to expedite works related to modern devotee accommodation facilities (Bhakta Niwas), darshan queue complexes, a shopping complex, function hall, ghats and a 1.6-km external bypass road.

An additional plan worth around Rs 301.54 crore has also been prepared for new works beyond the original blueprint of the Shri Kshetra Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Temple premises.

The Chief Minister directed that the works for the temple project be completed in a time-bound manner across three phases.

Under Phase 1 covering the main temple premises, the development plan includes grand entrance gates, a digital queue management system, waiting halls, a community kitchen (Annakhetra), a yoga and meditation centre and beautification of the temple premises.

Phase 2, focusing on sacred water bodies and ancient sites, includes scientific revival of Harihar and Markandeya Teerthas, ghats, cycling tracks, divyang-friendly facilities, a food court and installation of CCTV surveillance systems.

Phase 3 involving Meru Parvat development includes installation of a grand statue of Lord Shiva, a Shiv Purana and Vedic museum, an amphitheatre, laser light-and-sound shows and meditation spaces on Meru Parvat.

–IANS

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